The Top Ten Things My Dad Said That Saved My Life

My dad is a man of few words. More often than not, a litany of words would often get you a curt nod. He took up his secondary education at San Beda College, he was also a Philosophy graduate from the same college. He got his MBA in De La Salle University then his Law degree at Ateneo De Manila University. Yes, UAAP games tear him apart.

1. This is what you call..BASKETBALL. The sport is a big part of our relationship because my dad played for San Beda during his college years. Oha. :) He taught me all the skills and tricks. Despite the obvious fact that I'm truly height deprived.

2. The best hobby there is, is reading. My dad is such a book junkie like me. Our sunday afternoons are spent looking for the perfect book to buy. Book which turns into books because I could never just by one. The best thing is my dad never deprived me of reading, he encouraged even the most shallow of books.

3. Why don't you try writing. I was eight and so bored at our Hong Kong hotel. My dad handed me a writing pad and a pen, from then on I never stopped writing. I wrote poems and short stories, which to my dad's happiness, would be my way of telling him how I feel. It definitely helped bridge our differences during my teenage years.

4. There's nothing more wonderful than family. My dad's side of the family has always been the closest to my heart. Nothing could ever be the epitome of family like they are. Sure, we had our ups and downs, but there really is nothing more wonderful than my family.

5. Boss, sa tinapay. My dad introduced me to one of the most amazing creations in this world. Sorbetes sa monay. Hahaha. To this day, nothing has ever surpassed my comfort food.

6. If you want to be sure, ask me, I will always know. He does know, and it's not because he's my dad. He just knows each and every time someone doesn't have the best of intentions. And my dad has helped me see the light one too many times.

7. Ask for the betterment of others, and your dreams shall unfold. My dad has always taught me how to be selfless, because he is one of the most selfless people I know. Always look out for others before yourself.

8. Don't run away from what you fear. He knows me so well. He knows that so many things scare me but i'd rather not show it. Even if I look so forlorn and nervous, he would always push me to face my fears. Not riding rollercoasters though, we share that fear to a T.

9. Take it one step at a time. Whenever I have to decide on doing something, I have always had this habit of imagining possible future scenarios. I blame it on my creativity. So before I actually drive myself crazy trying to think of things, he always reminds me to take that one step and worry when I get there.

10. Lyching. People who know me and my dad would understand this. Haha.

The Top Ten Things I Thought I Would Never Do

I thought I would never...

1. Eat vegetables. Let's start off mild, and just because I have yet to mentally list down the big guns. When I was younger I developed a gag reflex to vegetables and I swore I would never go near the horrid stuff. As years passed, what started out as carrot nibbles eventually blossomed into a whole plate of vegetables I could gobble down. Healthy Shmelty.

2. Listen to Regine Velasquez. It took a huge break up and a rainy saturday night to help me appreciate her heartbreaking songs. Embarassment aside, I probably had "Bluer than blue"on loop for days! And that is why I'll never show anyone my ipod playlist. Teehee.

3. Dive off a boat. I'm really scared of heights, and actually going too deep in the water. A couple of summers back, to my surprise, I actually tried boat diving. It was amazing! It's definitely one thing people should try at least once in their life.

4. COOK! This might prove to be a comfort to beginner cooks out there. I started out so bad with cooking. One time, after my brother ate the Lechon Kawali I cooked, he got a sore throat and fever. That just brings bad cooking to a whole new level. But I kept on cooking until people actually asked for my Adobo. :)

5. Sing in front of a crowd. Ok, so its not actually a crowd. It was more like a group of friends. I sang though, and I wasn't even fiddling with my hair or rubbing my knee. Haha

6. Travel on my own. Ok so Boracay isn't really considered as a major vacation, but atleast I crossed out that one little island off my list.

7. Apply for my Masters Degree. I probably came up with one excuse after another just to hold this off. Eventually I did get the ball rolling, and I'm finally close to achieving this goal. I got into one of the best universities ever, and I thank God everyday for creating miracles.

8. Drive. I was shit scared of driving.  I even got into a minor fender bender on my 21st birthday. It worked out great though. I''m not exactly the meanest driver on the streets, but I do think i'm pretty decent around jeepney drivers. Beep Beep!

9. Get a tattoo. I got a tattoo a year ago, and for 9 months my mom thought it was henna. I KNOW. I did come clean though, and I intend to add one more tattoo..or two. :)

10. Write a blog about this. Just because I never thought I was so self absorbed that I needed to blog about the things I would never do.

Hahahahahahaha....