KCAT CAN ...I have a book that inspires!

As I was looking at the proof copy of my book in front of me, I suddenly felt the creeps and had goosebumps all over my body then in my mind, I shouted, “ANG GALING!”

Like you, I am very amazed with myself. I’m not bragging or something pero ang galing talaga! As in. Never in my life did I imagine the things I have done (and still doing), which I won’t enumerate.  Super nakakatuwa!

In 2008, after reading Yvonne Foong’s book about her life NF, I told my mom that I was really inspired by her and want to write my own book too. But how? I didn’t know how but I stated writing my story anyway. Fast forward to 2010, Angelo Garcia offered me a weekly column in at the youth section of Manila Bulletin (Students & Campuses). I was able to write 111 articles from June 5, 2010 to June 23, 2014.

 In November 2014, after Dr. Gaudencio Vega (Radiation Oncology), explained about the radiation treatment I’ll be needing to treat the tumors on both my optical wall and a 4-centimeter tumor in my brain, we were presented with an estimated price quotation and it’s more than half a million pesos. I suddenly thought of republishing my previous columns I’ve written for the past three years and put it in a book.

In this way, I’ll be able to continuously raise more funds to sustain my medical needs while sharing my life with others.

I had a lightbulb moment right then and there. I kept on saying that I publish a book when we reached home, I immediately turned on my computer and started doing the book.

After almost a year, it is finally done. As they say, Self-publishing is not as easy as it looks but it is REALLY REALLY REALLY WORTH IT! Thanks to my mom and my sister, Talitha (who is also my editor) I was able to do it!

I am inviting you to the launching of my book, KCAT CAN – I have a pen that writes on November 14, 2015 at Googel Restaurant in Mandaluyong City at 4:00 pm (we’ll be there until 8pm).

I believe that through this book, I will be able to help and inspire you while helping me sustain my endless medical expenses.

My book won’t be available in any bookstores and you can only buy it from me. It will be available after the launch and you will be able to find it on my website and FB pages (KCAT CAN - I have a pen that writes, I AM KCAT, Art Ah Tack). I assure you that your P450.00 will be worth it!

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I'm a very proud Bosconian #HappyBirthdayDonBosco #DB200

I have A LOT of pending blog posts (I'm currently writing some) but I am not feeling well lately thus I'm not in the mood to write. But I can't let this day pass without uploading this.

Today is the 200th Birthday of St. John Bosco & I want to post this today. Last year, during DBS’ (Don Bosco School) 25th Anniversary, I was so honored to be one of the DBS Silver Awardee as an Outstanding Alumni.

Last week, my mom handed me a copy of the DBS Silver Anniversary Magazine and showed me our pictures there ..ang dami! Here’s what I sent Sr. Anne that was published on the magazine:

 

My parents learned that there was a new Don Bosco School (DBS) in Manila that accepts girls, and since my dad and mom’s brothers were Bosconians, they were eager to enroll me here.I was accepted and I was lucky to become one of the first batch of students in DBS way back in 1989 and proud to be one of the first graduates in 2000.

In those eleven years, I thought I was only here to study, study, and study. I have learned a lot, but not only lessons from textbooks, but DBS also taught me about life: what life is, how to value life and how to live it well, not by myself, but together with everyone. And all these form a big part of who I am today.

In August 2004, I was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis Type 2 or NF2, a very rare genetic disorder of tumor growth in the nerves, including the brain area. When my doctored told us about it, I was okay and accepted it immediately without feeling something negative; just a bit sad, of course. But I was suddenly comforted with the thought that God was there with me and He’ll always be with me and there is a good reason why He let it happened to me. That time, I didn’t know it yet and placed all my trust in God.

With my current condition, my world may seem to turn upside-down right? But I don’t believe so. My life just cart-wheeled and after turning, I am standing confidently again (not literally though). I still have my life and I’m still myself in spite of all the things that I had experienced during that turn in life.

I am able to share my story and inspire others. I am doing this not because I wanted popularity but because I want to let everyone know how amazing God’s works on me are. Amazing blessings! And I am so grateful for that.

As St. John Bosco said, “Do your ordinary duties extraordinarily well.” We were reminded of these words countless of times during our schooldays in DBS, which is why even without much effort, I habitually give my best in everything I do.

Anyone can make a positive impact on the lives of other people. All we have to do is live our ordinary lives extraordinarily well. Be happy and positive. Do what you love and love what you do. “…be of service to all you know, and be a friend for all.” That was quoted from the lyrics of one of my favorite Salesian songs and I know most of you know this too. It ends with, “…with Don Bosco we can make it now.” I’ve always kept those lyrics in my mind and been living by those words.

GYA Peeps went to London..chos!

Our #BabyLoveFansClubInternational couple, Noel & Marge invited us to dine with them or meet for coffee after their dinner last Friday. Then suddenly, we have another lakwatsa on Saturday Night. We all wanted to try Costa Coffee and Michelle really really wants to, so Eastwood on Saturday night it is!

Photo from Kathreen

All of our planned “lakad” are always pushing through, super planado or biglaang lakad, walang hindi natutuloy unlike before. We’ve changed. We are more lakwatseras and lakwatseros now. Haha.

Photo from Isjan

Photo from Isjan

Since Michelle wanted pasta, we had dinner at Pasto and then we hanged out at Costa. Kathreen had to leave coz she had to meet her friends in Megamall. It felt like we were transported to London. Haha. We liked their coffee and we’ll go to Costa in Rob Place with Damian soon. Currently, it isn’t open yet but it will (on July 31). Basta we’ll go there soon!

We went home at 12am coz Talitha & I needs to go to Bulacan for the 2nd Gift of Hearing Project. (I’m still writing about the event)

Yummy!

Loyola with the (Yarza) Loyola

July 19 – Sunday.

 We went to Loyola Memorial Park to celebrate ME’s 2nd death anniversary. Her death anniv was really on July 9 but it was raining the weekend before that and the cousins & sister has a schedule Boracay trip with the GYA Peeps so we visited her grave (with Lolo Pete in it) 10 days after.

The trip included a sidetrip to Papa’s (GALS / Lolo Noning) grave since he’s just nearby. The distance is like Pag-Asa & M. Vasquez when they were still alive.

Yarza & Loyola + Mang + Andi

And there was also a special driving lesson for Talitha, Andi & Jenrik conducted by Bene & Camille. It was either the FX (Manual) or Starex (Automatic). Haha.

I just a had a long weekend full of lakwatsa last week but who said I can’t go out as often as I want? Of course I CAN LAKWATSA! :p Eastwood with the GYA Peeps later & Sta. Maria Bulacan for the Gift of Hearing Event tomorrow together with Talitha and her Miss Audiologist friends.

Saturday Lunch with Damian

Damian Joseph is the 1st GYA Peeps baby. Not really the 1st GYA baby but Ysiad is the first mommy among GYA Peeps. GYA stands for Green Years Apartment; not only is it where we are currently living, it’s the place we all grew up to and it is where our friendship bloomed.

Last Saturday (July 18) we had lunch at Magnum Manila with Damian (Okay, including his parents Ysiad & Jepoy) We planned to go there when it opened last year but it suddenly rained (I think there was a storm and it didn’t push through,. We wanted to dine there and not just buy an ice cream. We wanted to sit inside. Haha.

We have to dine there before it closes on July 26. (We knew about it from the start; that the days it's open here in the PH are numbered) We have to. So, we immediately planned to go to Magnum Pleasure Store in SM Aura.

OTW SM Aura. I love Uber. 

Cajun Spiced Chicken Poppers

Bacon Fried Fries

Spinach Cannelloni

Magnum Bolognese

Carbonara with Cocoa Dusted Bacon and Sous Vide Egg

Magnum Burger

Yummy!

Damian wants to eat too

Winner! Free Magnum. Congrats Katren! 

 Of course our Magnun Pleasure Store wouldn't be complete without desserts. Magnum Ice!

Desserts! (Photo from Katren)

Longest Closest Bestest Friends (Photo from Ysiad)

more lakwatsa to come Damian!

Wonderful steak lunch at Melo’s!

The very long travel from Mandaluyong to Alabang, Muntinlupa is always more than worth it at Melo’s. Thanks to Uber Manila, getting a ride & travelling is always hassle-free for us (so far) and it was easy for us to get at Melo’s in Westgate Alabang.

Talitha & I were supposed to go there with Maro since it was a holiday & he has no classes but he has somewhere to go to so I invited Kathreen the night before and she immediately agreed. Who would decline Melo’s anyway?

Long Weekend = Long Lakwatsa!

Most people would plan / schedule a trip or "lakwatsa" whenever there's a long weekend. Kala niyo kayo lang? Ako rin!

Went to Melo's in Alabang yesterday for a very very delightful steak lunch then strolled at ATC for a while. I just got home from SM Aura & ha lunch with cutie patootie Damian before Magnum Manila closes on July 26. We'll be visiting our grandmother ME (and Lolo Pete) tomorrow at Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina. Of course we'll say hi to Papa GALS too.

Will blog about these 3 on next week. ;)

Looking at the bright side

"Ang tagal mo na palang nagtitiis."

Someone told me that when she learned that I was diagnosed with NF in 2004, got really week in 2005 and became totally deaf in 2006. I asked her, “Nagtitiis?” Because I don’t think I am literally suffering hence there’s no need for me to endure it. You might think that I’m just acting tough but that’s how I really feel. These sufferings don’t really make me feel like I am suffering ever since. I felt pain that had me crying, unconscious, in delirium state, etc. (on the scale of 1-10 and 10 as the highest, I have experienced pain that's 10 countless of times). I used to be in so much pain & up to now, I usually feel those pain once in a while but that’s just it. Yes, I'm living in pain but I don't think that my life is suffering too. NF is NF, Kcat is Kcat.

Am I too positive and looking at the bright side too much? I don’t think so. It’s helping me and it has helped me a lot.

“Positive thinking doesn't mean that you keep your head in the sand and ignore life's less pleasant situations. Positive thinking just means that you approach unpleasantness in a more positive and productive way. You think the best is going to happen, not the worst."  (Mayo Clinic)

I’ve always believed that I’m an optimist, yet I’m always in-check with reality and has a firm grip on it. I am an optimist realist!