Ang Pag-ibig ay parang Pagluluto:

(1) Dapat hindi minamadali. Kasi kapag minadali mo, hindi magiging kasing-sarap ng lutong hinintay at pinag-ukulan ng oras.

(2) Wag masyadong lakasan ang apoy. Ang pagkaing niluto sa low heat ay hindi katulad ng pagkaing niluto sa high heat. Kadalasan, ang niluto sa high heat, akala mo luto na, pero pag hiniwa mo, hilaw pa pala ang loob. (See no. 1)

(3) Maniwala ka sa nanay mo. Siya ang nagluto’t nagpakain sayo mula noon (at maaaring hanggang ngayon), kaya lahat ng pasikot-sikot sa pagluluto, alam niya.

(4) Magtiwala ka sa sarili mo, na kaya mo at kakayanin mo. Pwedeng kabahan at matakot, normal yan.

(5) Pag-ukulan ng oras at atensyon. Dahil kung hindi, maaring masunog at lalo kang mawalan ng kakainin.

(6) Kung pangit ang kinalabasan ng niluto mo, masama ang lasa, nasunog, masyadong hilaw, nasobrahan sa lambot — hindi ibig sabihin ay dapat ka ng tumigil sa pagluluto. Maaari silang magsilbing tanda, para sa susunod mong pagluluto, alam mo na ang dapat (o hindi dapat) mong gawin.

(7) Dapat handa kang mapaso, masunog, matilamsikan ng mainit na mantika, mabuhusan ng kumukulong tubig, at magkapeklat. Tanda yun na minsan mong nilakasan ang loob mo na magluto kahit alam mo ang maaaring maging kapalit.

(8) Importante ang lahat ng lasa. Kahit na sabihin mo pang mapait, maalat, maasim, matamis o sadyang walang lasa ang pagkain, lahat sila ay importante. Dahil kung paulit-ulit at pare-parehas lang ang lasa ng niluto mo, nakakaumay na yun masyado.

(9) Walang perpektong recipe. Ang recipe na nagpasarap ng luto ng kapitbahay mo ay maaaring hindi angkop sa panlasa mo, and vice versa. Kanya-kanyang style yan, ayon sa kanya-kanyang panlasa.

(10) Higit sa lahat, bago ka magluto, siguraduhin mo munang handa ka na.

A Work in Progress

Dear 2010,

I started you wrong -- no wonder why you were pretty much messed up. I lied and compromised, without knowing. I gave up a big part of who I am and what I believed to be right. I broke promises and oaths, played the role of the victim AND villainess, blamed, complained, insulted, and pretty much everything that I told myself I wouldn't do.

You were also the year when my heart was a little too active. I've had my heart broken twice in a span of a month. I guess I was too in love with the idea of love. I tried to put matters into my own hands, chasing after love, like a kid after a firefly. When in fact, it wasn't even love. It was a cheap, second-rate version, with a psychological disorder on the side.

You were also full of drama... and horror, and action, and suspense, and comedy, and thriller, and mystery, with really good cinematography and visual effects. If you became a movie, I wouldn't be surprised if you became the number one movie of the millennium. There was always something going on, and I was always trying to stay alive.

But you know what? I still want to thank you. Besides earning my degree and getting my license, I've learned a lot and grown so much. New friendships were formed and the old ones were strengthened. I've cried bitter tears, but I've had more gains than losses, and I've known more joy than hurt. I've learned that no matter how mature I can be, there would always be parts of me that still need improvement. It was also in your year that I've finally mastered the art of surrender and self-control. I've learned that just because I want something (or someone) doesn't mean I need to rush things. And just because I want something (or someone) doesn't mean I'm ready to have them. I may be taking baby steps, but I'm getting there.

I am thankful for having experienced your wonderful and rollercoaster-like year. Though I've had my share of hard times, I wouldn't dare change them, even if I could. And I may not know what 2011 holds for me, but I'm positive that it will be as awesome as you are, or even better.

Looking forward to a brighter future,

Micah♥