I’ve always wanted to live in a castle. I guess that’s what you get in reading a lot of fairy tale stories. When I was younger, we used to live with the family of my dad’s sister. She has four children who were way older than me and my siblings so we get to read their books in their library. And since my parents couldn’t afford to buy us toys and much worse they don’t believe in toys, so I ended up readng books. My favorite book then was a red fairy tales book which had around a hundred stories. Then I would imagine myself living in a castle with the twelve dancing princesses or picture Cinderella sleeping near the fire place. And then gorwing up I would imagine meeting my Prince charming who would take me away with him to live happily ever after. Although 27 years have passed and still my prince charming haven’t arrived yet but then that will be a story for another day.

Last Saturday, May 17, 2008, my friends and I went to Argao, Cebu to attend the 3rd birthday celebration of Angela, the daughter of one of my friends. And since we had a couple of hours to spend one of my friends asked the group if we would want to see a castle. And since I’ve always dreamt of living in one, I joined him in convincing our friends to go. So we rode a tricycle (a motorcycle with a cart attached to it’s side) and off we went to the Riverstone Castle.

I was so amazed when I saw the place. Whoever built the place did use river stones to build its walls. When you pass the main gate, you will see a bridge with a small creek underneath with crocodiles in it and knights (made of cement) guarding the gates. In the main building, you will find a tavern which has an aquarium underneath it, a royal hall which serves pizza for 230 pesos per pan, a karaoke hall on the second floor, a mini court yard in the center of the property, a swimming pool and mini zoo with some exotic animals. They also have small towers that you can climb to see the forest around it and the sea that surrounds the shores of the area.

It felt weird being there. It’s like I’m in a different dimension. I was like waiting for a noble man or woman to pass by in their royal wardrobe. Hehehe… But seriously, it was a great place to visit. It’s a great get away if you would want to get out of the city to think things through or to just get away from it all. The place is really quiet since it’s outside of the town proper and it’s also almost on the top of the mountain not a lot of people would pass by the place. And since it’s a bit secluded and they only have five available rooms you’ll really feel like you’ve got the place for yourself.

I heard one of my colleagues earlier say which is worse, to say something that you’re not suppose to say or didn’t say something that you should have said? Hmmm… I guess that will depend on what that something is and it’s effect to the people around you. If saying that something will hurt the people around you then it will be better to leave it unsaid but if that something will help somebody then say it. So what if that something will help somebody but at the same time hurt somebody then what should you do? Then we will have to weigh the cons and pros. Do what is good for the majority. I think it’s similar to what an author have pointed out before. He said that if somebody said something that you know is wrong and if correcting him in the middle of the crowd will not have any effect on the conversation other than destroying the relationship between you and that person then better keep the truth to yourself and correct him when you’re alone. But of course it will be different if it will involve the safety of other people. Because we do have a responsibility to look after the safety of other people. If a person tells another person to drink a certain chemical because it is not poisonous but you know otherwise then you will have to step up and tell the truth. Get my point?

If you’re looking for a tuna sandwich that has a kick in it, try The Tuna Wasabe Sandwich of Cheesecake etc. I tried it a few days before I left for Makati last March. It’s very filling but very light. The lettuce and tomatoes are very fresh which adds a refreshing feeling and the bread is moist unlike in other restaurants were it seems like they’re using stale bread. The Wasabe was just enough to make you feel that it’s there but it does not overpower the taste of the other ingredients. It’s really good. And I think those who are in diet will appreciate it for it’s so filling that you wouldn’t feel hungry for a couple of hours. You pair it with their iced tea which was also really good and then end the meal with a slice of their blueberry cheesecake. Hmmmm…

Before I used to think that I was wiser than my age. But working with different kind of people from different age groups with different backgrounds made me realize that I’m a novice in a lot of things. Like if you want to be somebody in your workplace it is not enough that you’re really good at what you do. You will also have to learn how to get along with other people to encourage cooperation within the organization. That if you didn’t like something or if you have something in your mind that will help the organization, you will have to not just speak your mind but have something to back it up. That if you want to achieve something, it is not enough to make a plan and implement it, it is also important that you follow through to check if there are other things that needed to be done to improve the current process. That being nice to everybody doesn’t really mean that you’ll get along with everybody nor will being rude help. That not all people can be trusted especially when these people have ambitions and you are in the way for them to achieve their goals.

What makes you happy? A friend of mine asked me this question. Honestly, I was not able to answer the question right away. I wasn’t aware that people sees me as a happy person so I was caught off guard when she asked me about what makes me happy. I asked her what made you ask me that question. She said because I see that you are happy and she wants to know my secret so that she’ll become a happy person as well. I told her it’s because I satisfy myself with what I have. I see all things that comes to me as a blessing and I always make sure that I am able to balance all the aspects of my life. I once read that for a person to be truly happy, he or she has to learn how to balance his/her emotion, health, career and spiritual life. I didn’t realize it before but I am doing just that. Keep in touch with my family and friends, I try to get at least six hours of sleep, I set and aim to achieve the goals and I go to church.

If you’ll come to think of it, having all the riches in the world is worth nothing if you don’t have anybody to share it with. True happiness has a lot of sources and can come in different forms but it can never be acheived by the material things that we have. One great source of happiness is to make other people happy. You don’t have to give other people expensive things just to make them happy. A simple smile or a simple hello or even a simple thank you can always bring a smile to everybody. So how about you? What makes you happy?

In life, there will always be that one person who will make our lives miserable. Who will always find ways to make things hard for you to succeed. That no matter what you do, they make things hard for you just for the mere fact that they don’t like you. What if to get back to this person who makes our lives a living hell is to marry him or her? Because the mere sight of you can make his or her life a living hell. Would you marry that person? This person who makes your blood boil every time you see him or her for they remind you of what they have done to you? Hmmm…