An Open Letter for My Housemates

Hello!

Salamat pala guys, kagabi. Salamat Darlene and Vince sa masarap nyong spag, at dahil dun e may baon ako.. hahaha! Nag-enjoy ako kagabi kahit naubusan ako ng energy (nde ba halata? :D)

Pareho kaming nadedepress ni Dous pagdating ng 6pm or basta naiisip na uuwi na naman kami. Mabigat sa pakiramdam. Si Dous sumasakit daw ang batok.. :( Sana hindi naman high blood. Ang hirap naman na hindi isipin. Kahit na yung pampalipas oras ni Dous na WoW, hindi na effective (kahit WoW wala nang silbi, eh halos ipagpalit na ko ni Dous dun? hahaha! joke lang Dous :p). Hindi na rin kami makakain ng maayos. Hindi naman namin magawang i-comfort yung isa't isa. Pareho kaming tamad na kumilos. Pareho kaming parang laging malalim ang iniisip. Late na nakakatulog, late na nagigising. Ang lungkot di ba? Hindi na healthy.

Hindi namin nakasanayan yung ganung klaseng environment kaya medyo nahihirapan kaming mag-adjust. Buti nga kagabi may dinner tayo, maganda yung pakiramdam namin ni Dous, mas maluwag na. Tsaka kahit kaninang umaga na nasa bus ako, nangingiti pa rin ako sa mga kulitan kagabi. Hehehe! Nung mga nakaraan kasi lagi na lang akong lutang.

Ayun, lang po. Buti na lang po nandyan kayo. Salamat. Sobrang malaking bagay samin ni Dous yun. Alam nyo naman na sa taong depress, kahit anong maliit na bagay na nakapagpasaya sa tao naaappreciate e. Kaya yun, thanks po ulit.

O sya, work mode na ko.. :p
@Darlene, pagaling ka po. Wag abusuhin ang katawan, hindi tama yun. Sana makauwi ako ng maaga para makagawa ako ng tinola..

Babush.. See yah later!

LJ Regalado

Lord, please give me faith, strength and guidance. Amen.

MAYBE . . .

...another forwarded message from Darlene

Maybe. . . we were supposed to meet the wrong people before meeting the right one so that, when we finally meet the right person, we will know how to be grateful for that gift.

Maybe . . . it is true that we don't know what we have until we lose it, but it is also true that we don't know what we have been missing until it arrives.

Maybe . . . the brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; after all, you can't go on successfully in life until you let go of your past mistakes, failures and heartaches.

Maybe . . you should hope for enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, and enough hope to make you happy.

Maybe . . . the happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

Maybe . . . the best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had.

Maybe . . . happiness waits for all those who cry, all those who hurt, all those who have searched, and all those who have tried, for only they can appreciate the importance of all the people who have touched their lves.

Maybe . . you should do something nice for someone every single day, even if it is simply to leave them alone.

Maybe . . . there are moments in life when you miss someone -- a parent, a spouse, a friend, a child -- so much that you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them for real, so that once they are around you appreciate them more.

Maybe … giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they will love you back. Don't expect love in return; just wait for it to grow in their heart; but, if it doesn't, be content that it grew in yours.

Maybe . . . you should dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go, be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you dream of, and want to do.

Principles for Peace of Mind

...a forwarded email from Darlene

1. Do Not Interfere In Others' Business Unless Asked.

Most of us create our own problems by interfering too often in others' affairs. We do so because somehow we have convinced ourselves that our way is the best way, our logic is the perfect logic and those who do not conform to our thinking must be criticized and steered to the right direction, our direction. This thinking denies the existence of individuality and consequently the existence of God.. God has created each one of us in a unique way. No two human beings can think or act in exactly the same way. All men or women act the way they do because God within them prompts them that way. Mind your own business and you will keep your peace.

2. Forgive And Forget:

This is the most powerful aid to peace of mind. We often develop ill feelings inside our heart for the person who insults us or harms us. We nurture grievances. This in turn results in loss of sleep, development of stomach ulcers, and high blood pressure. This insult or injury was done once, but nourishing of grievance goes on forever by constantly remembering it. Get over this bad habit. Life is too short to waste in such trifles. Forgive, Forget, and march on. Love flourishes in giving and forgiving.

3. Do Not Crave For Recognition:

This world is full of selfish people. They seldom praise anybody without selfish motives. They may praise you today because you are in power, but no sooner than you are powerless, they will forget your achievement and will start finding faults in you. Why do you wish to kill yourse lf in striving for their recognition? Their recognition is not worth the aggravation. Do your duties ethically and sincerely.

4. Do Not Be Jealous:

We all have experienced how jealousy can disturb our peace of mind. You know that you work harder than your colleagues in the office, but sometimes they get promotions; you do not. You started a business several years ago, but you are not as successful as your neighbor whose business is only one year old. There are several examples like these in everyday life. Should you be jealous? No. Remember everybody's life is shaped by his/her destiny, which has now become his/her reality. If you are destined to be rich, nothing in the world can stop you. If you are not so destined, no one can help you either. Nothing will be gained by blaming others for your misfortune. Jealousy will not get you anywhere; it will only take away your peace of mind.

5. Change Yourself According To The Environment:

If you try to change the environment single-handedly, the chances are you will fail. Instead, change yourself to suit your environment. As you do this, even the environment, which has been unfriendly to you, will mysteriously change and seem congenial and harmonious.

6. Endure What Cannot Be Cured:

This is the best way to turn a disadvantage into an advantage. Every day we face numerous inconveniences, ailments, irritations, and accidents that are beyond our control. If we cannot control them or change them, we must learn to put up with these things. We must learn to endure them cheerfully. Believe in yourself and you will gain in terms of patience, inner strength and will power.

7. Do Not Bite Off More Than You Can Chew:

This maxim needs to be remembered constantly. We often tend to take more responsibilities than we are capable of carrying out. This is done to satisfy our ego. Know your limitations. . Why take on additional loads that may create more worries? You cannot gain peace of mind by expanding your external activities. Reduce your material engagements and spend time in prayer, introspection and meditation. This will reduce those thoughts in your mind that make you restless. Uncluttered mind will produce greater peace of mind.

8. Meditate Regularly:

Meditation calms the mind and gets rid of disturbing thoughts. This is the highest state of peace of mind. Try and experience it yourself. If you meditate earnestly for half an hour everyday, your mind will tend to become peaceful during the remaining twenty-three and half-hours. Your mind will not be easily disturbed as it was before. You would benefit by gradually increasing the period of daily meditation. You may think that this will interfere with your daily work. On the contrary, this will increase your efficiency and you will be able to produce better results in less time.

9. Never Leave The Mind Vacant:

An empty mind is the devil's workshop. All evil actions start in the vacant mind. Keep your mind occupied in something positive, something worthwhile. Actively follow a hobby. Do something that holds your interest. You must decide what you value more: money or peace of mind. Your hobby, like social work or religious work, may not always earn you more money, but you will have a sense of fulfillment and achievement. Even when you are resting physically, occupy yourself in healthy reading or mental chanting of God's name.

10. Do Not Procrastinate And Never Regret:

Do not waste time in protracted wondering " Should I or shouldn't I?" Days, weeks, months, and years may be wasted in that futile mental debating. You can never plan enough because you can never anticipate all future happenings. Value your time and do the things that need to be done. It does not matter if you fail the first time. You can learn from your mistakes and succeed the next time. Sitting back and worrying will lead to nothing. Learn from your mistakes, but do not brood over the past. DO NOT REGRET. Whatever happened was destined to happen only that way. Why cry over spilt milk?

i miss the place called home...

Friends, I Need Advice

You guys know me. Alam nyo ang mga bagay na kaya at di ko kayang gawin. Since sa panahon na to di ko alam ang kailangan kong gawin, I need an advice.

Eight kami sa flat, two of them hindi na nakiki-cooperate, boy 1 and boy 2 (if you know them personally, I'm sorry and just please tell me if we just misunderstood them but I tell you, this is what happened). Meaning, wala silang planong magbago at parang wala na rin pag-asang matahimik ang bahay. Sinabi ko na sa kanila na dati pa lang, nag-aadjust kami para sa kanila para maging peaceful ang bahay, pero nakikita pa rin nila yung mga dating issues. Di ba pag natama na, dapat wala na yun sa issue? At dahil sa paniniwala nilang ako pa rin ang may problema at hindi namin sila nirerespeto, hindi na rin daw nila kami rerespetuhin. At silang dalawa na rin ang nagsabi na bakit sila mag-aadjust para sa amin.

Ang kinagagalit nila, maingay daw kami, which is true. Take note ang door nila ay glass door lang meaning kahit konting ingay maririnig nila. Kami ang gusto namin, masaya yung bahay. Pano ka magiging masaya kung hindi ka makikipag-usap o magsasalita? Dun pa lang may conflict na.

Ang gusto nila sa tahimik:
- walang mag-uusap malapit sa room nila
- yung paglalakad namin dapat hindi maingay
- yung galaw mo dapat dahan dahan lang lagi para hindi makaproduce ng ingay

Pero sila pwedeng:
- maglakad ng maingay
- makipag-usap sa telepono malapit sa room nila
- makapagdabog ng pinto nila
- makapagdabog ng pinto ng CR
- makapagdabog ng pinto ng ref
- magkwentuhan sila ng maingay
- magsara ng door nila ng maingay
- maghugas ng pinagkainan nila ng maingay

Hindi ko rin alam kung nananadya sila sa mga ginagawa nila:
- iniiwan nilang bukas ang ilaw kahit na walang tao sa room nila
- pinapatay bukas nila yung air-con na ngayon ay hindi gumagana
- isang linggo na silang di nagtatapon ng basura nila na nangangamoy na sa kitchen
- hindi na rin maayos ang paggamit nila ng CR
- pinagbabayad nila si Aldous ng PUB nila dahil nagvolunteer naman daw siya na magbayad nung nasira yung air-con namin one-month ago
- kinuha nila yung petty cash na dapat para sa bahay

Sobrang hirap ng feeling ng may kasama kang ganitong ugali sa bahay. Kung tutuusin, pwede kaming umalis ni Dous para lang matahimik pero sa pananaw ko hindi ito yung tamang paraan. All of my officemates tell me to just move out 'coz it already gives me stress. Pero hindi e, hindi naman naresolve yung problema 'pag umalis kami.

And dahil sa nangyayari, nakakaisip ka na rin ng hindi maganda para naman matahimik ang bahay, which is not healthy anymore, right? So I need help, I need it so badly. Hindi ko/namin alam ang gagawin sa kanila. Paki-explain na rin, please, kung nasan ba yung problema. Kung sino ba ang problema. Kung ano ba pwedeng gawin. Sinubukan na namin makipag-usap sa kanila pero sumisigaw lang sila at sa dulo kami LANG ang willing mag-adjust.

Help.. Please...

Thanks in advance..

I have proof, kung gusto nyo ng audio recording para malaman nyo how childish, unprofessional and how inconsiderate they are, i can send it to you.

Well Said..

(10:45:38 AM) aldous: alam mo kanina, parang mas na-energize ako kahit papano
(10:45:48 AM) aldous: kasi nakakabuhay ng dugo yung mga ugali nila :)
(10:45:49 AM) LJ Regalado: ?
(10:45:53 AM) LJ Regalado: ;))
(10:45:54 AM) aldous: na parang
(10:46:01 AM) aldous: naaappreciate ko lahat ng meron ako sa buhay
(10:46:08 AM) aldous: na may mga kaibigan ako
(10:46:13 AM) aldous: na may pamilya ako sa pinas
(10:46:16 AM) aldous: na mahal na mahal ako
(10:46:26 AM) aldous: na di naman kapos sa pera
(10:46:35 AM) aldous: na overall masaya naman talaga ako dito sa SG
(10:46:52 AM) LJ Regalado: :*

That makes me feel happy, more blessed and motivated...

Issues Daw Sakin

Air-con

Ano ba sabi sakin about sa aircon?
-- Kinausap na ko ng main tenant na wag patay bukas ang aircon at paki-minimize ang gamit. Sabi ko, OK, wala namang problema na dun kc tama naman. Parang nag-end up ang usapan na pwede naman siguro gumamit ng aircon ng weekend dahil wala namang pasok. Hindi nafinalize yung usapan namin na yun pero starting that day, saglit na lang kami magbukas ng aircon at medyo mahaba pag weekend.

Ilan ba ang condenser?
-- Iisa lang ang condenser na gamit sa apat na rooms.

Kelan nasira yung condenser?
-- Around June 14. Hindi na gumagana yung aircon. Bakit? May nasunog sa condenser. Sabi ni housemate 1 dahil daw patay bukas ang aircon namin at buong magdamag. Yun ba ang cause ng sunog? Hindi ko alam. Alam nya? Hindi ko alam kung may explanation sya pero sabi nya yun daw. Business Management yata ang course nya.

Ano pananaw ko sa paggamit ng aircon?
-- Pag buong magdamag pala, masisira yung aircon? Siguro wala nang gumamit ng aircon kung ganun din lang. Tsaka, bakit parang yung stay namin sa Vernida hindi naman ganun. Yun yata isang linggong walang patayan pero hindi naman nasira yung condenser. Oh well.

Nasira ba ung condenser dahil pinatay bukas namin yung aircon that time?
-- Hindi. Bigla na lang syang nasira. At sa pagkakatanda ko, ilang araw na ang nakakaraan nang kausapin ako ni main tenant na wag bukas sara. Sumunod naman ako kagad.

Alam ko ba kung pano gamitin yung aircon na yun bago kayo lumipat sa flat na yun?
-- Sabi ni main tenant, luma na daw yun at yung huling tenant na umalis, grabeh gumamit ng aircon.

Kelan ba kami lumipat sa flat na yun?
-- May 28 kami lumipat. Meaning, half month pa lang kami sa flat. Ilang buwan na sila nag-sstay dun? Nagmove in sila ng first week ata ng May. Sino ba ulit mas matagal nang gumagamit ng aircon?

Teka, ilang oras ba gamit ng aircon namin?
-- Nung unang week, sabihin natin na buong araw, worst case, pero pinapatay yun pag sobrang lamig na sa room. After may nagreklamo sa gamit ng aircon (na sa una pa lang wala naman silang sinabing rule about sa paggamit ng aircon), bukas ng 5pm hanggang 9am. After masira ng condenser, 11pm-7am. Eh sila? Hindi ko alam, shifting sila e. Bukas daw mula 9pm pag dumating na si housemate 2 pero dahil natutulog pa si housemate 1, around 10am na napapatay yung aircon. OK? You do the math.

Sino ulit may kasalanan sa pagkasira ng aircon?
-- Kami ba? Please explain.


Cooking

Ano ba sabi sa ad about sa bahay na titirhan ko ngayon regarding sa cooking?
-- Nung nakita namin yung ad ng available room na yun, walang nakalagay na "light cooking only" at mas prefer namin na hindi kasi gusto ko magluto.

Ano ba rules ng bahay?
-- Tinanong ko si main tenant kung ano sa rules sa bahay, of course including yung pagluluto. Sabi nya wala naman, ang importante lang sa knila maglock lang lagi ng pinto. So, may sinabi bang bawal magluto ng umaga, tanghali at gabi?

Ilang beses ba kasi ako nagluluto?
-- Kahit na maluto ako ng tatlong beses sa isang araw, at dalawa na kami ni dous ang kumakain nun. Meaning, kung may Math na involved, 1 and a half lang ako nagluluto sa isang araw at ganun din c dous. Itanong mo kung ilang beses sila nagluluto sa isang araw? Say, tig-isa sila? That makes two. Ilang beses ulit kami? Tatlo? Wow! laki ng difference, pare... At take note, dati pa yun, nung wala pa kong work! Get over.. grabeh...

Ano tanong ko?
-- Kasalanan ko ba na marunong ako magluto at sila [enter whatever here]?
-- Kasanalan ko ba na mas makakatipid kung magluluto ako sa bahay kesa sa kumain sa labas?

Ano ulit?
-- Ano ulit yung issue sa pagluluto?


Washing machine

Ano naman tong washing machine?
-- Last Saturday, nag general-cleaning kami ng room. Meaning, laba ng towels, bedsheet, 2 kumot at syempre yung ginamit naming damit nang isang linggo.

Pano ka ba kc maglaba lj?
-- Kahit automatic ang washine machine namin, hindi ko ginagawang full cycle (Wash-Rinse-Spin) ang bawat batch. Nirereuse ko yung water and sabon kc sayang naman. Ibig sabihin, after masabunan ng puti, kusot, tanggal sa washing machine, lagay sa basin tapos lagay sa washing machine yung next batch, etc.

Gano ka katagal maglaba?
-- At dahil maraming labahan nung Saturday dahil general cleaning nga, umabot ako ng hanggang 7 or 8pm ata ng gabi. Sige na nga pagbigyan na lang natin na mula umaga pa daw akong naglalaba kahit na tanghali na ko nagigising. So 10am, for example. Wow! 10 hours akong naglaba. Pakibawas pala dun yung kusot ha? tsaka yung oras na nakakalimutan kong tapos na pala yung wash.

Ano ba usual mong laba?
-- Usually, 3 hanggang 4 batches pag sabado ang laba ko (whites, grays at 2 para sa mga maong). Pag Wednesday or pag free ang washing machine, 1-2 batch para sa underwear at isa pang batch para mabawasan yung labahin ng Saturday. Take note, dalawa na kami ni aldous sa laba na yun. So ilang batches yun sa isang linggo? 6.

Itanong mo kung ilan beses sila maglaba sa isang linggo?!
-- Dalawang bese daw sabi nila. Ilang batch sa isang labahan? Say dalawa. That makes 4 na labahan sa isang linggo per head. Take note, isang tao pa lang po yun. Eh dalwa sila, so ilan na? 8? Linggo linggo silang ganun ha? Ilan ulit kami? 6? tapos 10 nung isang araw lang? Gawin mo nang 12 para isang buong linggo. Wow! galit na sya nun. Ang aksaya ko daw!

Haay..
-- Ikaw nga magsabi sakin, may problema ba ko sa paglalaba nang maitama naman..


Ingay ko daw?
-- Hindi kaya. Ang tahi-tahimik ko nga e!
-- Hay naku. Given na yun. Tanggap na. Hahaha! May bago ba? :p
-- Tanong mo kung hindi sila maingay... Ayoko na pong magsalita..


Nagagalit na sya hindi nya pa alam kung ano mga rason. Sinubukan kong sabihin sa kanya at iexplain ng maayos kaso bale-wala naman. Umabot pa sa point na sinabihan nya ko ng "tarantado", "bastos", "leche" at kung anu-ano pa dahil lang natatawa ako sa kanya. Haay.. Tapos, yung mga dating issues pa na dapat naibaon na, ibinalik pa rin. Ngayon, ako ba talaga may issue? Paki-explain lang kasi hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit galit na galit sya e. Salamat..

P.S.
Defense pa lang to ha? Wala pa ung offense..