j a n s e n. i. s. m.

In between Christmas and New Year’s Day, my circle of
friends finally had our holiday dinner together at Rosaliz in Covelandia last
December 30. It was the best dinner we have shared together so far, and the
first in a semi-formal setting like that of Rosaliz. Food was served generously
on the table and looking at the happy faces of my close friends surrounding me
(Rodel, Glads and bf Jake, Jhoy and Erwin, Judie, Jhing, Sheena and her fresh
from abroad bf Rey), I couldn’t be any content. After the sumptuous meal,
multiple picture taking, healthy laughter and small
chitchats, I finally had the chance to hand my gifts to my deserving friends.
It’s been a great year of friendship despite some issues brought about by the
fact of moving on after college life, so they truly deserve those gifts. To continue the night’s celebration, we went to Island Songs for serious videoke fun,
some booze and more food.

As we welcome 2007, I realized time will still be a welcome issue
among us friends or with any other type of relationship. But most importantly, we
shall put this in mind: QUALITY OVER
QUANTITY. I know I couldn’t take away the fact that we have very limited
time for each other now due to schedule conflicts and priorities but whenever
we get a chance, let’s just make the most fun memories we could possibly do and
leave no room for anything negative.

Thanks everyone and cheers to 2007!

Doctors or dentists are luckier, because medical rule recommends
that we should visit them at least twice a year. For Angel, our godchild whose
mother is a close friend of us way back in college (until she fell in love and
had a child, sacrificed school about the same time she turned 18), we only get
to visit them every December of each year in time for her birthday and
Christmas. So annually, I make it a point to arrange a date when our circle of
friends can drop our gifts personally at their house and have some catching up
with Angel and her mom– our college friend turned desperate housewife.

As much as I hate it, there are a few friends (also
godparents) who didn’t show up with us but I hope they take the time from their
busy schedules and personal issues to be able to visit our ‘inaanak’ before the
end of year. For us present, the ‘catching up’ this year turned out to be more
of catching up with the fellow visitors’ Christmas party in their company rather
than the hostess’s life as a mother and wife. We had so limited time and I just
hope the few hours we had then could have been spent talking about them than
us. But then, I understand.

At the end of the visit, I realized even more how much I
should value my friendship with my ‘college-friend-turned-desperate-housewife’
and my responsibility to her daughter as a godparent. I will always remember
the college days we would sit with our pregnant friend in class and walk next
to her proudly while people are looking at her in a maternity dress. And I will
never get tired of giving gifts to my ‘inaanak’ and most importantly visiting
them every December.

Angel is now in kindergarten while her mom is planning to work
in Makati to
provide a better future for her family. Wow, she’s gonna be supermom soon and that just makes
me admire her even greater.

                                                          
jansen + photography + 1
conversation with an orange couch
bangs and bald
lucky number
finding superman
loopholes
7am sky
tha-i food
second runner-up victory
abandoned star

A close friend of mine who’s working on a night shift has
been a recent victim of some f*cking desperate selfish group of robbers inside
a bus along Roxas Boulevard near Heritage Hotel en route Baclaran (Take note it
happened early morning—around 6:30 am). The bus was filled with terror when the
robbers declared a hold-up, showed guns and knives then took all the valuables
(cellphone, jewelries and cash) of the passengers. Thank God no one was harmed
although the experience left some serious trauma for the victims, while for all
of us, let this story be a reminder to be always on alert and to take the
precautionary measures because this can happen to anyone. Remember that danger lurks
anywhere most especially this Christmas – which as we all know is the season of
giving but for those f*cking desperate selfish group of robbers–  the season of taking.

Interestingly, before I learned about this bad news from
my close friend through phone call last night, I had an inactive premonition.
Earlier, I stopped by at a specialty shop at the mall to take a look at an item
I’ve been eyeing to give my close friend as a Christmas gift since Saturday.
The item was a necklace and on the same display spot are cellphone
chains/accessories with tiny jewels/beads on the end which I thought might be
good gifts to give my other friends who I haven’t bought gifts yet. I picked
one of those items to examine and suddenly, it slipped on the flooring and from
one piece it became two. I was able to fix the little damage myself and not pay
for the damage but somehow for feeling a bit guilty, I left the store immediately
without purchasing any.

Then on my way home inside the service, I can’t help but
look at the aircon buses from Cavite passing on the opposite direction in the hope
I might see my close friend at one of the windows. I didn’t have the luck to
see her and as a matter of fact I won’t be able because my friend told me she took
an emergency leave due to the traumatic happenings earlier that day.

Here’s a list of the gifts I wish to receive this Christmas. Most I know I won’t get from family or friends unless I start befriending a rich person out there or I win in a raffle before December 25. While some in this Christmas list are that no amount of wealth can buy.

So I’m counting on Santa, I’d been a good boy for this year. If ever you read blog, pick the ones I deserve most this Christmas.

1. A new Palm Treo 680 – a smartphone/PDA phone because I always wanted to own a Palm but I cannot afford it.
2. A 6-megapixels or higher Sony digital camera- because digital photography is one hobby I want to pursue in the future.
3. An IPod Nano in black or silver- because I love music but I don’t find it practical for myself to buy one now.
4. A Lacoste or Chuck Taylor sneakers – because I never owned a good shoes.
5. An external CD-RW/DVD combo drive for my computer so I can watch DVDs on my PC.
6. A nice size ‘small’ jacket from Giordano or F&H because I only have one.
7. A Guess or Kenneth Cole watch – because I’ve never worn a watch for ages.
8. A pair of Freshlook colored contact lenses (1.75 and 1.50)– I think brown eyes would be nice.
9. A 1K- worth gift certificate at a salon for my hair makeover – because a perfect colored hair would look good with brown eyes.
10. A book by author Mitch Albom, either ‘Tuesdays with Morrie’ or his new one, ‘For One More Day’ – because his books are very inspiring.
11. A Parker ball pen – because I’m tired of MyGel.
12. An electric toothbrush – because I want to experience how it feels on the mouth.
13. A decent small microwave oven-safe lunchbox – so I’ll be more confident eating homemade lunch at work.
14. An effective and BFAD-approved gain-weight pill – because maybe gaining some pounds won’t be too bad for my health and my ego.
15. An inspiration – because I never had one for quite sometime.
16. A one year supply of confidence – because there are days when I wish I had that.
17. A few days early, stress-free Christmas party or dinner with friends – because I miss them.
18. A better and more festive Christmas celebration with family – even if Dad’s not home.
19. A Christmas greeting from someone I don’t expect.
20. And a lasting happiness for the person reading this.