keep calm and carry on

You might be wondering why I'm using a British slogan for my post's title when it's the Philippines' Independence Day today. I meant to do this post yesterday but since I promised to dedicate an entry to a friend who's celebrating her birthday today, I thought I'd just postpone it one day. Regardless, this is my post's main message (a sort of virtual post-it for me and the birthday girl), which for me is timely. Not just because I was watching GG yesterday and saw this slogan on a British poster as Australia was celebrating the Queen's birthday, but also due to certain recent happenings, which at the moment I shall still keep mum about. Don't worry though, everything is still peachy the way I prefer to look at it.

Alright, greetings first. Happy independence day to my country! And happy birthday to one of my closest longtime friends, Onay. I used to spend Independence Day at Onay's house because she's always had a birthday party. I've been friends with her since gradeschool. Grade 2, if I remember correctly. I used to call her by her real name Ronna. I remember having a hard time getting myself to call her Onay because that's just not how I got to know her, but eventually I learned to call her that without the awkwardness. She is one of the friendliest people I've met, and one of the most sincere as well. She doesn't have an air of pretension nor does she carry a grudge against anyone, and I guess that's why everybody wants to be her friend. She is not your secret frenemy, definitely not the type of friend who delights in other's misfortune to feel good about herself. I've always remembered her being as happy as I was for my triumphs, without a hint of envy whatsoever. And she keeps in touch, that's why I feel like I can always run to her, because with the little hello's and how are you's every now and then, I can tell she's a friend for keeps. :) Needless to say, I love her dearly and I'm sure I'm only one of the many. ;)

From left: Tinette, Laurie, Onay (birthday girl) and Cha

It's her first time to be away from her family, and I can imagine how things are extra difficult for her especially on her birthday. Her little posts in FB tug at my heartstrings because I know the feeling very well, having lived by myself thousands of miles away in a country with a different time zone. So this is where the slogan comes in: keep calm and carry on. A priest once told me while I was probably at my wits' end to take deep breaths and let them take out the toxins with them. It worked for me, so Onay do that as often as you need to. I admire you for making a big sacrifice for your family - it reminds me of my dad's and I guess I never really understood the gravity of it until I experienced being alone myself. Though we're not really alone, we'll always find friends. ;) And remember, all good things to those who wait. :) Here's wishing you a very happy birthday! I made a choco lava cake to celebrate. The first one had 'choco lava' already oozing out, which wasn't that pretty. Anyway, I hope your day has been extraspecial. Just keep praying, and always offer up your 'joys and tribulations' to the Lord. ;) XOXO