A Continuing Tradition

Every couple has their own tradition of celebrating Wedding Anniversary. I don't know how it might seem to others but everybody has the right to celebrate on their own special way. My hubby and I decided that "lock" is going to be one integral part of our Anniversary and Anniversaries to come. We're making one lock every year as a symbol of  renewing and keeping the first promises we uttered for each other :) 

I'm excited about doing it every year, In fact I'm already thinking of what kind of lock, design and color we will be using in the future. (hehe) Lock became a new toy for me. This year's lock maybe is more simple than  the first one but it's more durable.

There it goes, a new lock for a not so old couple. I don't think we will run out of space to put lock on, there are four of these bridges and we can always put in any of them :)

 As you can see, it's all frozen down there. There is nowhere to throw the keys to, unless we would dig under the snow and ice that covered the lake. We had a better idea :)))))))))) Guess what?

We are going to throw the keys at the Pacific Ocean very soon. We're gonna do it in the part where I have spent most of my childhood. Where I have been swimming as a kid together with all my playmates and Grandpa and his dog. We've been there last year when I was showing him around the town I grew up. Not a bad idea, is it? :)

Lake is frozen so we had fun walking under the bridges this time. 

Promise Keeper

This is one of our favorite parks. It's beautiful especially in fall. It's quite romantic. Many newly wed couples are coming after the wedding ceremony to put locks on the bridge and drink champagne. It's a tradition which comes after marriage. The couple puts lock and throws the keys to the lake. It means to lock wedding/love promises and keep them, getting rid of the possibility (key) of letting it go. It's symbolic for every couple.

It is a park my husband's childhood. Now it is "our" park which bears the continuing part of our love story and wedding anniversary tradition. 

A year ago we got married in the Philippines and came to Russia in summer. We made ourselves a personal lock and put it on one of the bridges there.

"magkasama magpakailanman" is in Filipino language which means "together forever"

 Like all others, we threw our keys to the lake. But we turned our backs so we will not see where it falls.

But when we looked back, this is what we saw. It was amazing to see them fall together at the same distance. It looked like a wedding ring intertwined. What a sweet coincidence that we have thrown them with different forces but it landed on the same spot. I was so touched.

I simply cannot ignore the moment, I had to drag the camera fast and make picture of it before traces will be totally gone. It was a very special moment and will always be memorable.

Now, ours belong to many of theirs.

That's our bridge. It's the first in line facing the bigger part of the lake.

Inter-Marriage

What does it take to be internationally married?

I'd say it's a variety of excitement, thrill, challenges, learning and continues growth.

Exciting in many senses. Physical, mental, moral and cultural differences bring thrill to the relationship.

They say opposites attract. It is true, even science says so. There's nothing can be more satisfying than having someone who loves exactly the things you may not like about yourself. There's nothing can be more fulfilling than loving and being loved for being different from each other. The more differences you find, the fonder you become towards each other.

In some situations you would find yourselves arguing about something insignificant for the mere fact that you've learned it both in different ways. Sometimes you'd emotionally disagree on things which triggers the moral standards you've grown with. There are instances in which you wished yours is what is his and vice-versa. In some cases you'd even end up debating on some political and social issues which concerns least about you and him together but you continue doing because you think it is right to defend your ideas. But at the end of each issue, what matters is how much you learned from each other, how much respect you gained from being open, honest with your words, reactions and feelings. It matters how much tolerant and accepting you can be of each other despite of many differences. And most all, it is exciting how you find compatibility amongst all your disagreements. It is also amazing to find some commonalities between you no matter how far and disconnected you countries and families are from each other. All of those, I believe are just stages on molding you husband and wife as one great partner.

Like any other relationships, it's always not all about thrills and excitements. Ours is full of challenges too. Aside from normal life's difficulties we got a bonus and it's a big one! It is a challenge which will take every drop of your blood for you are going to undergo a massive hemorrhoid battling to win every single document needed to be together. Yes, documentssssss I said. Bureaucracy is a twin challenge of our marriage. It was there even before we got married. So I'd rather say, it is a pre-requisite to Inter-Marriage. You hate papers, lines, payments and all the likes? Stay single and don't go anywhere except the four corners of your room and you'll be spared from those. In short, do not live at all! That is how I keep myself motivated at least. I choose to live, love and enjoy life so I must go through challenges which are laid upon my way. Before we got married, we needed lots of papers to prove that we are we and that we can be allowed to be married. After the marriage there were more, even more in fact. This time, these are papers which aim approval of both countries that we want to live/stay together. Again, it takes a lot of effort, money, time and stress. Having granted of living together in one place either mine or his country is not the end of the challenge. It is just the basic. All those documents gathered have to be renewed in one time or another. It is a continuous process of updates. It can slow down a bit but when we will have children, the process starts again, this time will be about children's documents which of course is attached to our documents.

These are but necessary evils in our lives. It is not easy to move from one place to another all the time, it is not the most comfortable feeling to fly 10 hours and more from one country to another. I cannot be the most calm when I have to go out bringing papers and money which is a matter of life to me and my husband in a city where crime threatens any individual anywhere, anyhow and anytime of the day.

How do I combat them? I take the COURAGE and PERSISTENCE. I bring with me much LOVE and SUPPORT from my husband. I PRAY, for SAFETY, GUIDANCE and PATIENCE so, no matter how difficult things would be, I will not give-up or feel hopeless and depressed.

All those, thrills and challenges bring colors to our lives. Colors does not always come in vivid, juicy and bright shades, sometimes they appear dark, pale and melancholic also. No matter what color it brings us, Life Goes On Positively! :)

--- lovelovelove---

Disclaimer:

The content of this post merely speaks about my experiences and relationship. I do not neglect the fondness and challenges of other relationships which are not Inter-Marriage. All my words here describe an Inter-Relationship alone, simply because I am in it. I do believe that in general, couples pass through the same level of experiences, just in many different ways. Everyone is created different as every relationship is too.

Those were the Days

I thought I was gonna skip some days before talking about "us" again. But hey, here I go again (lol). I just thought that it'd be fun sharing some more old pictures we dug last time. ",) It is fun to look back at those days when we were young and innocent, active and foolish. All of those are part of growing up.

1983, we were 5 years old. Two innocent minds who have no idea they're gonna find each other later. ",)

1995, 16 years old. Mind my jeans (lol) it is super high waist. Low waist jeans came out later that year which was a big relief to me. since then I never and will never ever use high waist jeans anymore ",)

I was laughing a lot at Shamil's hair. What is that "bangs" all over? hahahha. I told I don't think I was going to like him if I have met him that time. I wasn't very likable myself too hahhaha. 

But the funny thing is I guess those times that year, that kinda hair was "in". I remember I had crushes with some boys at school just because they got this kinda hair. We called it "pechay" and I don't know why ",)

I liked it when the hair hides their eyes sometimes and how they brush it off their face haha. My eldest brother had the same hairstyle that year I remember now. 

So actually I might as well have a crush on him if we met that year. hehe.

1999, 20 years old. Hahaha this one I don't even know what to say. We probably both look like a man haha.

I don't know, it was the time I enjoyed very short hair. I was quite rebellious towards opposite sex. I give myself the right to like them but I didn't want them to like me. I wasn't a man hater, I hang out with guy pals a lot but I was in total boycott for relationships that time. I don't know, I got some reasons ",) 

I like him with this hair but I felt in love with him when he shaved 'em already hehe. I don't know, I just remembered that when I met him, I was into skinheads (the hairstyle,NOT the group). It was the "flavor" of the year as I call it hahaha. 

When we met my hair was a little longer than this already.

As of now nothing matters anymore, short hair, long hair, no hair, whatever... 

We already passed the stage of "acceptance" and we do accept each other for who and what we are. ",)

The Story continues (2) ...

Since 2007 began, we talked like no other things matter except our text, emails and calls. From the moment we wake up, somebody must've a texted already.  We text during breaktime or sometimes even during class hahaha. I can't wait to go home at the end of the day just to concentrate texting, check the mail with pictures attached he sent and wait for his call. We talk until we finish the IP card which works for about 4-6 hours. We sometimes part at 4am and I had to get up at 7 for my class but I didn't mind being tired. I don't remember I was lol. We talked some bulls, some sweet nothings, some seriousness, plans. I guess we there was so much time lost  we're coping up.

I had this craziness of writing down our text messages hahaha. yeah, you can call me whatever you want but I did that. I don't know, I used to keep journal and I just thought that these would be the most cherished entries which I'd like to look back in the future. I thought that when he will be here with me, we'll be laughing at all of these "craziness". And we did, I use them to attack him hahaha in times I want to annoy him and I laugh at myself too. I still have them, I'll take them with us wherever we go. The longer is kept, the more valuable it become. These are the manuscripts of our story. These are the written confessions of what we didn't let each other know in 2004. The confession- that was how we became together when we both admitted that what we were actually suspecting (and hoping) of each other were all for real. ",)

I was reading them and I felt the same excitement I had when I was writing and receiving them 3 years ago. Well, it's a good news then because it means that I'm still in love haha. They said it's easy to fall in love but to "stay inlove" is not. As for me, I think I didn't stay in love ... I became MORE in love. For real, I know I don't have to admit it in front of strangers but hey, I'm just being honest right this very moment. And I am thankful for this. A happy love-life isn't available for everyone. I am grateful I am one of the blessed ones. I believe that everybody is entitled to it, it's just a matter of right time and right person ",)

Train tickets. May 2007. Labor Holidays was the first time he was gonna visit me (after 2005). I picked him up from the capital city where his train is supposed to stop (there was no direct) and then we're gonna take another train together to the city I was living.

Mixed emotions of anxiety and excitement filled me when I was on my way. He got there first so it was him who actually waited for me to get out of the train.

Shy and conscious and afraid (?) haha, I couldn't concentrate on talking with him. Well, it was like 3 long years right?

Anyway, this is one of the many pictures he was taking from his phone while we were having coffee and waiting for our train back to my place.

Inside the train. On the way to Qingdao.

And here are some of the pictures we took during those days. 

The most hated moment. This was at the airport already when he was going back to the city where he was working. He was actually late for his flight haha, we got lil bit more time together then.

And of course the day ended up all in tears and heavy hearts. We gotta wait for another 2 months to finish his contract in his school and then he was gonna move to my city. 

We waited, the texting and chatting and calling continued even more than before. I never went out to party anymore 'cause all the nights I spent on the phone. 

To make the story short, he came back in July for good. I found him a job in my school so we worked together. And there our story continued. Qingdao is such a sentimental city for both of us.It where we built our lives together.

We left Qingdao and went to visit Philippines in 2008. I introduced him to the family. Everything went well. When we came back to China, we lived in another city and that would be where we are now. 

And here we celebrated our 3rd anniversary just few days ago. ",)

The story will be continued in few months from now. ",) (surprise).

The Story continues ...

We didn't go out yesterday because Shamil is actually sick. We're supposed to eat out and make some pictures. We just spent the day at home eating, watching movie and digging our old pictures and reminiscing. That was sweet to bring back all the memories back from the past six years. I would say that it was the sweetest. On occasions like this we would buy each other a present, eat out or go somewhere. But yesterday would beat all those other days I must say. It is not about the presents, it is not about fancy dinner dates or expensive travels. It's the quality of time spent together. ",)

We found this old pictures from Huadu where we used to work; the place where we met each other and the place where we developed good friendship.

I still remember this moment. He was always making fun of this beanie I have because 

I actually bought it from Philippines and it's quite unusual 'cause I got it from a super hot country ",)

I was wearing in the previous picture. the bear is in Russia now and the beanie is still here.

He gave me that piggy an the baby hat (as part of his jokes on me), both are here with us.

I do remember this moment too. I was shy 'cause he doesn't know that I have

a crush on him (lol) Nobody knew except my Japanese friend. And I didn't know either 

that he kinda liked me back then as well. haha what a story!

He was moving to another city and this

was actually the time we parted in 2005 just a month before I moved to Qingdao. we all left Huadu.

how could i ever forget this time when i first shed a tear for him. he knew i cried but he didn't know why 

hahahha (corny). he was hugging me tightly few minutes before i took that train. i just let him 

thingking that that would be the first and last. (who knew, right?)

And so that is how we parted in 2005. We kept our communication open with mobile messages and emails. Until later that year, we stopped talking. We didn't hear from each other in 2006. Probably one or two messages and that's all. I didn't forget but my feelings faded away. What do you expect it's been a long time and we've been apart.

December 31st,2006, I was at my friends' house waiting for the new year, I received a new year greetings from him. I sent him the same wishes and  didn't expect any more incoming messages. But there was, I heard the same sweet message. Hmn, missing him enough, we talked again. And that's when we started talking again. ",)

... to be continued ...

3 years and still going ...

three years infatuation plus three years of love make us a couple of us. we met in 2004, felt attracted, infatuation  lingered until love was spoken in 2007. 

I want somebody to share

Share the rest of my life

Share my innermost thoughts

Know my intimate details

Someone who'll stand by my side

And give me support

And in return

She'll get my support

She will listen to me

When I want to speak

About the world we live in

And life in general

Though my views may be wrong

They may even be perverted

She'll hear me out

And won't easily be converted

To my way of thinking

In fact she'll often disagree

But at the end of it all

She will understand me

I want somebody who cares

For me passionately

With every thought and

With every breath

Someone who'll help me see things

In a different light

All the things I detest

I will almost like

I don't want to be tied

To anyone's strings

I'm carefully trying to steer clear of

Those things

But when I'm asleep

I want somebody

Who will put their arms around me

And kiss me tenderly

Though things like this

Make me sick

In a case like this

I'll get away with it

© 1984 Martin Lee Gore - Depeche Mode

when i was younger i always hear from couples what they call a theme song.

i didn't find it cool (lol) to find a particular song which you both like and then what? 

sing together? hahahah that is not so cool.

but now we got the same. i mean i call it a "theme song" now.

we didn't choose it or whatsoever. it all just happened.

i was in love with this song when i first heard it. 

it bacame my all time favorite since its lyrics 

made me think a lot. 

i wondered if it is ever true.

i wished that if i will find someone i want him to be 

just as what it is said in the song.

that is all i wanted.

when we bacame together, i once told him about this song.

and it was a great surprise to me that all those years

i was listening and pondering on this song, he used to do the same.

it's really funny to think that we are from totally different parts of the world,

but we were doing the same, probably at the same time (who knows) ",)

i felt the magic. i believe in soulmates and i believe that 

some people are just really meant for each other. ",)

i am in love and is going to stay in love with this man.

if God is willing, i hope to spend the rest of our lives together.

(taken in 2009)

Love, Love, Love

Valentine's - a special day for every individual who loves, is loved, wants to love and be loved!
when i was young and rebellious, i was so cynical about love and relationships. i think every person goes through different situations in which they experience things in life which they are supposed to learn. i have outgrown mine.

it's hearts' day and everybody seems to be excited about the day. single or not, everyone has the right to that feeling. it's a day for every persons vital part - the heart which we refer to as Love. it's one time in a year when men becomes extra sweet preparing the best date for their partners. women as well put on their best effort to make their men feel how much affection they have for them.

every couple does their own special way of celebrating the mutual feeling they share. my bf and i had a very special day. i'd say that this valentine is the best so far. i think i have passed the stage when a girl dreams of a fancy dinner date, surprise public display of affection, precious presents and stuff. i didn't feel much to care about the stuffs we give each other. to be honest we didn't spend much this time. i didn't want to. and i think that we were right for doing so. the less we spent money, the more affection we gave to each other tyring to compensate the lack of expensive gifts.

i had this dream of watching from google earth every couple celebrating the day. but it's just a dream, i know i wont be able to see them that way. i told my bf that i want to go out, have an ordinary dinner as everyday but i wanna spend time watching people. i wanted to see them celebrate. i want to feel the happiness in their hearts.



and so we did. we brought the camera not for our usual photo sessions but i wanted to document this day. i want to keep a visible sign that Love is on the earth. how i love such a day. flowers were overflowing. they are sold at every corner of different streets. old and young ones were all out. everybody wants to participate.


i was quite overwhelmed seeing boys buying flowers. some of them are simple ones but you could see that they were trying. i've seen some who were not young anymore but they took their women out and bought them flowers. touching eh? not every adult couple seek to celebrate such a day. there were few elderlies holding hands too. really heartwarming.


some boys were walking with bouquets, stuffed toys, and presents on their hands. they probably felt stupid bringing all those things on a busy street. but they still did...for their loved ones. hehehe oh yes, how i love Valentines. others were obviously anxious, tensed and nervous but with all smiles on their faces with a flower on one hand and the phone on the other. they were probably waiting for their ladies to come. some girls were too shy to be proud of what they got.


i cannot stop smiling looking at everyone. i even asked my bf "what is happening? everbody's smiles are up to their ears." could it be real? can this be forever? i wish it could be. everyone seems to have a good humour. even police patrol were saying hello to us. strangers came and asked to have pictures together.

that's how Love works! it gives warmth at every humans heart which allows us to act better than how we do in most common situations. when we are loved, we become unselfish. when we share love, we become an agent to make that other person unselfish. then it becomes a cycle where everybody gets involve.


i must say that today is one of my most wonderful days on earth. i made my dream come true of seeing Love on earth. i didn't have to see the whole of earth. i found it on a small part where i am located. i was happy to feel it not only in my heart but on the air. i think this is what happens when someone has enough Love for oneself, he/she begins to see it from others. i am happy to see people from different walks of life feeling the power of LOVE.

Life changes for Love

It is amazing how time changes Life. It runs fast and transforms even faster. Things happen…as planned or not. We feel happy or sad, angry or depressed. Sometimes these changes are great surprises. Indeed a surprise in its most surprising way.I had the biggest change in Life when I decided to love and be loved. Love, on the contrary, love is not a decision. It is the feeling that persuades one to make a decision. It is a decision which is followed with intense actions. Love is a big factor of change. It can build or destroy a person, relationships, and things that involve human actions. With me, I couldn’t say it destroyed me because I have not become worse nor that it has built me because I was also someone that I have built before. However, there are many changes in many different things and ways. It has brought me to a new and alien situations and routines. I have always believed that I am a different individual like everybody does. Someone who does not do what everyone does, someone who makes a difference in commonality, someone who takes the path that not everybody would choose to take, someone who downplays the most tempting temptations on earth. I made quite a difference in the way I wanted to be different ...and I’m proud of that. There was nothing wrong with living an ambitious, systematic, mechanical, logical and morally upright life. But things go boring sometimes too :). There is no such thing as absolute satisfaction. It’s a human nature to ask for more. More, applies to different matters like success, happiness, opportunities and challenges. Everything that is asked for brings changes from which you might gain or lose something.I am not the same individual anymore. I am not as tough as before but I am also stronger. I couldn’t be mechanically logical in everything anymore but I am more like a feeling individual now. I lost system in most of my actions but I gained more understanding too. Ambitions have no definite peak. Every step is just a stepping stone to the next one. I don’t level my personal ambitions to some others’ ambitions. Their peak is not my peak, so I’d still say, I am successful. There is something more that I could have done to become more than just successful. If roads have a detour, ambitions and aspirations got re-assessment too, which in this case is considered a detour. That happens when your set priorities are changed not because you have to but because you have chosen to. What made me take a detour is what my heart kept yelling me. I always say that I got the power to ignore my heart’s call. I thought I did so. But No, because those calls before are not deafening enough to make me pay attention. But the call I am referring to is more than just loud to be heard by human ear. It comes from within. It is my heart’s call. It’s the call of Love!




25January2008
Friday 7:07pm

my destiny

this isn't my first poetry, just one of latest. i had a few published on our school paper in college. some are descriptive poeams and others are narrative. i normally run most of them as free verse, you know, rhyme free makes it easier and faster.my destiny


i used to see a guy sometime ago.
for no reason why,
or i just don't know why;
He seemed so close to me.

from a distance i'd look for him,
tried catching every chance
even in the dim.
He looked mysterious to me

there were times we talked
then felt glad at once.
other times we walked and left a glance.
He remained a puzzle to me.

whenever he'd get closer
he got me so tensed
can't get any tougher
feeling is just so dense.
He became significant to me.

He made me feel so well
not like every man could do
but it made me hid in my shell,
afraid what i might go through.
He was then a pain to me.

i did all to stay away
but chances were
He always made me stay.
for Him i became not easy to bear
He then became impatient to me.

He caught me one day
questioned how i was behaving
and said what he had to say.
softened by what i was hearing,
He was becoming a trouble for me.

time passed, things changed
people moved, memories brought
to other places got engaged.
to me remains a thought,
He will always be special to me.

life has to take its course
no matter what actions people take
simply it wont leave you any choice,
when all is lead by fate.
i thought He's just a memory to me.

until one day to no cost,
i found myself in his arms.
such moment i cherish the most.
living with this truth gives nobody any harm
God knows how He'd fallen for me.

destined to be together
we started anew
pleaded to stay forever,
lives' been full of hue.
more meaning to life he gives to me.

life is wonderful
if you know what you're living for
some times are distressful
but love can always give a cure.
without Him now is impossible to me.

in life i'd ask for nothing more
if every moment is so dear
with Him i want to live for sure
willing to laugh and shed a tear.
indeed, He's the ONE destined for me.