OK Bikol is definitely OK

i enjoyed the four days in Manila.
this was the OK Bikol Trade Fair held anually
@ sm megamall, megatrade hall
and included young, budding entrepreneurs in the bikol region.

it was a first for me!

the fair showed a wonderful variety
of handmade craft,

from fashion accessory

to home furnishings,
food to wine,
tourist destinations
to massage services.

christian and jam came with me to manila to help me on those four hectic days,



and, again,
i came away wondering
how we were able to pull that one off,
with flying colors and fuller pockets.

and the occasion provided such a great excuse

for lots of F.A.R.M.ers to converge
and enjoy the company of good friends
from our beloved hometown of
baao, camarines sur.

with jane, jet, sheila, and emily's sis

sarah, jane, bidibidi, gladys

jay, monette, juvinil, jane, bidibidi, jonathan

for me, it was a triple treat
as i was invited to guest in a tv program
“shop talk” hosted by pia hontiveros,
with global viewership.
such a rare chance for a budding entrep like moi.

thanks to all of you for supporting my button world, my advocacies and my love – from the button of my heart. . . and like with any good read, the next chapter in the book of F.A.R.M. is just about to unfold. .

jasmin, adie, marivic

manoy johnny, manay connie & me. . .
jane, bidibidi, jun, jen, kirby

adie, monette, bidibidi, sarah, jane, gladys, iris

sarah & gladys with inay

"beauty begets beauty":
monette, sarah, iris, gladys, jane, bidibidi

matt, louella, bidibidi

the bth group:
rommel, jonathan, charina, mia, bidibidi, gladys, adie, sarah, iris, perfect, jane, louella, matt

mia, jonathan, charina, gladys, iris

rugi ann, gina, rudy & giru

doyi & kristine & rona mae

happiness - i make my own

on occasions, happiness comes easily and unexpectedly
sometimes, it’s very elusive. . .

like a fluttering butterfly
or a magical starfish wandering by in the sea water.

it’s not always easy to catch sight of it
. . .often eludes you;

but if i am unrelenting, i just might catch a glimpse of it. . .

flitting, floating, drifting, roving. . ..




i know people who just don’t want to be happy.

they dwell in an abyss of confusion, uncertainty, ambiguity. . .
sadness, sorrow and perpetual discord with themselves;

and they blame their unhappiness on someone or everyone else.
sometimes their toxic and venomous behavior and words are like poison to the happiness of others as well.



each of us has a responsibility to ourselves to make our own happiness.
to that end, i recite this mantra. . .
a gentle reminder for a little lift.


because, i and only i, am responsible for making my own happiness; i must lift up my head, lift up my spirits and make a commitment to myself to enhance my own happiness each and every day.

i make my own happiness - a mantra

i make my own happiness.

only i am responsible for my own happiness.
i am committed to being happy.

i am the keeper of my laughter.
i can let it out or bottle it up inside.

i am the creator of my own joy.

i can allow myself to experience it or to stifle it.

i am the designer of my own fun.

i can bring the fun with me or leave it at home.

i am open to true love.
i can keep my heart unguarded or refuse to take a chance.

i control my expectations.
i can expect less and enjoy more or expect more and enjoy less.

i keep an open mind about life and new experiences.
i can be a flexible thinker or narrow-minded and bored by the status quo.

i am willing to share it with people who appreciate an environment of happiness.
i am also willing to walk toward the sunshine alone if they refuse to see its brightness.

it is my protection, my barrier, my shield, my salvation.
i enable myself to appreciate the ability to simply experience happiness.

i make my own happiness.

this past visit @ La Huerta

i have been so busy these past few weeks,
and i have not been to my farm, as a result.
i even missed the harvests of the peppers,



the pumpkins,



the lettuces, the beans



and the tomatoes.



oh, my! those are the things that i love doing the most – harvesting. . .
and trying to decipher the mystery of nature in the beauty of a harvest. . .
what has come between us?

so, it was a pleasant surprise to have a friend who came for a visit.



la huerta has become my venue for entertaining visiting family and friends.

the farm ambiance is still unparalleled



and the sumptuous meals served by virgie is definitely a knockout.



it still feels great to walk the paths of la huerta.



now, there are more new paths. where there once was only Rosario’s path,



now there are a few unnamed treks.



and there is still much beauty to be found.





i have always been a firm believer that a well-planned landscape is one that looks great all time of the year,
and this is what i did at the farm.

the visit was short and brief but the changes i noticed at the landscape,
as a result of the seasons,
reflect clearly my belief.

and i walked all the paths of la huerta,
both old and new
and they all lead to my dear old balinese hut –

where life stories are told. . .

surprised!

my birthday was not that day,

i didnt even think about it,

i usually never do,

my birthday is just one of those days,

nothing special for the self,

most of the time,

it is spent for, well, not the self, but that is another story.

F.A.R.M. button day was conceptualized by my new young friend, wheng.

the thought fascinated me,

and because i am a perennial hostess to anything,

it was a happy thought to host a lunch

for my new found friends, my new clique, my F.A.R.M.ers.

so the F.A.R.M.ers’ convergence would be at the farm - La Huerta.

double entendre (i farm and i F.A.R.M.).

as in any day that a guest is to visit La Huerta,

i wanted the place to be perfect

(to my standard, at least: flowers strewn on the pebbled path,

the small fountain bubbly,

the grass cut, trees pruned, yard swept. . .

i can go on and on),

as i will be entertaining perfect friends,

some of them, actually perfect strangers.

my F.A.R.M.ers arrived early!

on time!

was i embarrassed that i have to arrive at a later time,

and when i did, i felt like i was important.

they (wheng, joan, jo, yayet and apple) were actually taking pics

of the steps i make from the time i alit the pedicab,

till the time i was throwing kisses all around – amidst screams, laughter.

i was in the middle of joy.

when we settled in my balinese hut,

and sarah finally arrived with her brood,

more laughter and kisses and fun.

it was such a fun moment! fun to all of us, joy to me, particularly.

joy that i cannot put into words, i just know i was joyful! jubilant! exalting!

they suddenly started singing a birthday song,

and the lone male F.A.R.M.er present

(now better known as itay)

suddenly came up with a lighter and was lighting my candles.

i was all ???? what is happening? whose birthday is it?

i never even thought one would notice the birth date on my profile

and to come up with a surprise like that,

i was again speechless, and had to swallow hard to

keep me from losing it. it has never actually happened,

that somebody gives me a surprise for anything!

my ‘sisters’ came next, tootsie with her brood

and anne with my goddaughter emma.

more kisses and wishes.

we didn’t want the day to end, it was such a happy day

and we were all enjoying: the food, the place, the company.

but dusk crept surreptitiously and soon it was dark,

we had to go.

and today,

i look back to that special day,

those precious moments and cannot keep a smile from forming.

i look at myself on the mirror just in front of me now

and i see lines,

especially near my smiling eyes,

and i know,

they may not reflect the many times i have smiled, laughed

and cried. . .

but i certainly know. . .

those lines are there for reasons and seasons. . .