Q-nnected

we've moved!

2008-04-25T09:23:00.001+08:00

may 15, 2007: passing score is 50%

2007-09-02T12:34:00.000+08:00

joy's first shot at hairdressing.

lem gave her 2 out 4, mere 50%.
she got the front and back right.
never mind the sides.

non sequitur

2007-08-30T08:33:00.000+08:00

june 30, 2007: moving it

2007-07-18T13:17:00.001+08:00

while looking at pictures of tibet taken by sam's friend, lee-san, joy told lem how awesome the images are.

joy: "these images move me."
lem: "yeah, they are good."
joy: "that's what images do, so sasamahan mo na ako sa monet exhibit bukas?"
lem: "di pa rin. malamang, i will be moved nga, moved to boredom."

joy went alone.

february.6.2007: she says ...

2007-02-07T14:04:00.000+08:00

I first saw Lem's name on his father's lecture notes. His name was sandwiched between the names of his other two siblings, Ada and Les. Their names were labels of the boxes strung together to illustrate a data structure known as a linked list. Professor Quiwa was my teacher in two major Computer Science subjects.

The name took a boy's shape when I first met Lem while I was applying to join the UP computer Society. He was this slender, silent, shy guy who was surrounded by loud friends. I was this plump and sociable gal. We might have looked worlds apart, but, as some would say, we have shared the 'same wavelength' from the beginning.

We got to know each other more through emails. We were both busy working on our theses then and we were working under different departments. Instant messaging was not big then nor was text messaging. We would send each other emails in between breaks. Lem even took pains to compile these email exchanges into a book.

After graduation, I went home to Davao, my province, to rest and contemplate on what to do next: whether to stay there or go back to Manila to work. During this time, Lem and I would exchange snail mails and he would call me long distance (we both didn't have mobile phones then.) Then i finally decided to go back to Manila to work. Just before my first day of work, on January 8, 2000, we officially became a couple.

We both love to eat. Every chance we get, we try out a new place or frequent our favorite resto. It has been always a habit to exchange stories and talk things over during these times. We also enjoy watching movies. Our dates are mostly food binge and movie dates.

After 5 years of going steady, we decided to marry. We had a modest ceremony on March 12, 2005. The day was graced by family and friends. The day after, we set off for our honeymoon. We toured Bohol and had a wonderful time at the beach.

Having a wonderful time still.

january.20.2007: he says ...

2007-02-06T15:12:00.000+08:00

I met my dearest wife, Joy, during college. And it was not love at first sight - mainly because I do not believe in such a thing. ”Attraction at first sight” might be possible but not love. She was an applicant in an organization I belonged to, the U.P. Computer Society, and I sat in her interview. I distinctly remember getting the impression that she was an honest and open person because of her frank (i.e. blunt) answers.

We got acquainted with each other during the lazy times spent at the organization’s tambayan (place where people hang out), but got to know each other better because several times we attended the same class. We studied and worked on projects together. I remember feeling curiously “at ease” when I was with her. We “clicked”, and my fondness for her developed.

I expressed my love for her one day. A year later, on January 8, 2000, she expressed the same. (Yes, it took a year because there were hindrances to our relationship.) She became my first girlfriend and me her first boyfriend. Our relationship continued for nearly 5 years and at around the end of October, 2004, we decided to take the next step and get married. Despite the fact that I was late an hour on my own wedding day due to a series of unfortunate events, we began the rest of our lives on March 12, 2005.

november.5.2006: etched in wood

2006-11-05T17:58:00.000+08:00

joy, in one way or another, always finds herself messing things up.
early this morning, under the sun, love is ever new.

joy: love mo pa ren ako?
lem: oo naman.
joy: bakit?
lem: hindi ko ren alam.

november.4.2006: thumbs up!

2006-11-05T16:59:00.000+08:00

( she is loved. by him.)

october.1.2006: of course there is one

2006-10-21T23:14:00.000+08:00

on a cab ride to up, jamila's superstar was being played on the radio.

joy: come to think of it, ang dami talagang artists na splash in the pond lang.
(no comment from lem)
joy: lam mo yun, splash in the... oppps, flash in the pond pala!
lem: hahaha! kaya pala di kita maintindihan! splash in the pond! hahaha!
(lem is very unforgiving when it comes to english booboos)
joy: love mo pa ako kahit di ako marunong mag-english?
lem: hmmm, pag-iisipan ko.
joy: papagupit ako hair and papabangs! para di mo na kailangan magisip!

yes, everything has a reason.

happy new do to me!

april.2.2006: sunny water

2006-05-19T20:07:00.000+08:00

aguila resort. anilao, mabini, batangas.

this is one of those rare photos that is not self portrait. (thanks to cathy!)

snorkling.swimming.water.mangoes.sunshine.fins.lazy day on a raft.
good things are indeed better when shared with a friend.

Beach-Walking

2006-01-06T00:05:00.000+08:00

Seaweed-like
our arms entwining
and leaving water-logged footprints on the sand
     we walk the beach
     silently.

Nothing needs to be said now.

But to listen
     to the wind-joy
     tide-splashed
     beating of our hearts.

To feel
     the sun-warmth
     sand-streaked
     breeze-breathed
     presence
     of you and me.

For beach walks
     do not last
     forever.

Soon the sea
     will disgorge the weeds
     to dry up in the sun
and the tide
will erase the footprints
     on the shore
and the sunset
     of death
     will sever
     entwining arms.

And only
     memories
     of shared togetherness
     by the sea
     will remain.

EVELYN MIRANDA-FELICIANO

march.13.2005: bohol frolic

2006-01-03T00:27:00.000+08:00

the first day we woke up as husband and wife.

- toured tagbilaran, bohol
- went to see the chocolate hills
- explored local caves
- ate kalamay hati
- tarsiers tarsiers tarsiers!
- lunch buffet on a river cruise (the same river where Cesar Montano filmed Panaghoy sa Suba)
- museums, churches
- dimaluan beach resort - snore!
- bohol beach club - good food, relaxing hammock, refreshing swim, funny table tennis games (all at the price of losing a snorkel and goggles!)

the very same day the digicam died on us.

march.12.2005

2006-01-02T17:43:00.000+08:00

I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz,
or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.
I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between the shadow and the soul.
I love you as the plant that never blooms
but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;
thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance,
risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
so I love you because I know no other way
than this:
where I does not exist, nor you,
so close that your hand on my chest is my hand,
so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep.
- Pablo Neruda from Cien Sonetos de Amor (100 Love Sonnets) XVII