Love vs. Need

Last Tuesday night, November 22, while I was forcing myself to sleep, something very trivial, yet almost philosophical, popped into my mind

I do not know what prompted my brain to bring out a dialogue from Claudine Barretto and Piolo Pascual's movie, Milan.

In one of the last sequences, Piolo Pascual bumped into Claudine Barretto on a bridge. Piolo's character begged Claudine's character to take him back because he needs her, then he proceeds to tell her that he loves her.

Claudine's character replied, tearfully, with these words: "Mahal mo ba ako dahil kailangan mo ako? O kailangan mo ako dahil mahal mo ako?" (English: "Do you love me because you need me? Or do you need me because you love me?").

It struck something in my consciousness that I left me wondering 'til the sun slowly rose outside my bedroom window.

Do you love somebody because you need them? Or do you need somebody because you love them? Hmmm...

I've thought long and hard to analyze what those words meant. Petty, I know, but I came to realize that each statement holds different meanings, with different emotional intensities.

When one says that he loves you because he needs you, it seems like that person basically NEEDS you more than he LOVES you. The love he has is based on his desire for you.

To me, it sounds pathetic. It's like the person is playing with your emotions, by consoling you with sweet words that soothes and warms your being, when, in reality, he just wants something from you. He may be getting something beneficial from you: love, material things, sex, whatever. It seems like a last ditch effort to gain your trust and affection, or to get you back. It's a desperate plea, using love as an
excuse.

On the other hand, when one NEEDS you because he LOVES you, it's like life means nothing to him without you. It's your entire being, your presence, that keeps him going. He feels inadequate, incomplete being apart from you. Loving you is what keeps him alive. In essence, his Love outweighs his yearning for you.

Romantic, isn't it?!? Sigh!

Personally, I'd like to find someone who would need me because he loved me. But common sense tells me that neither Love, nor Need, should take precedence over the other. There should be an equinimity between the two.

If you need the other person too much, you lose your sense of self and you would tend to become weak. Whilst excessive love, may lead to obsession, fixation and dependence.

In this world, there really is no such thing as Perfect Love or Perfect Need. However, I still believe that Perfect Love is best described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, which states that:

"Love is patient and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not arrogant; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails."

If we only heed what Perfect Love is, then, I guess we could achieve and find the Love that we all deserve. A love to be shared with someone who neither needs you because he loves you, nor loves you because he needs you.

Pretty Tin & The Case Of Grimace's Galis

Last night, my sister, Pam, and I went to the 25th Birthday Party of our good friend (and fellow Blogger), Tin Racho. It was held at McDonald's St. Francis Square right behind SM Megamall.

As with any other McDonald's Party, it had a cute theme. Tin chose a Disney Princess Theme for her birthday. I don't really know why she chose to have a kiddie party for her 25th Birthday, but it was great fun!

I really loved the party since some of our friends from our BLD Youth days, who I hardly ever see these days, were there! Heck! Even Blog Addict Meggy Jelly was there with her hubby, the Miracle Bus Driver.

Just being with them was great enough. But add in some Parlor Games?!? Pure Riotous Fun! Imagine, grown men and women, scrambbling around like little kids, just for a little piece of goodie-bag item! It was hilarious!

And when Grimace arrived?!? We were like little kids, excited to touch and play with the Purple-Furred Mascot! Everyone whooped out their cameras and started flashing away! Kiddie Bliss!

While we were having fun with Grimace, our friend, MeggyJelly, started joking around the mascot... and she discovered something horrendous!

SI GRIMACE MAY GALIS!!! Hmmm... Has he been infected by the Asian Avian Flu due to his insatiable appetite for Chicken McDo? Que Horror!!! And his backside?!? Must've been a bad case of diarrhea or something! Man! He got brown stains all over thereabouts!

Just kidding! We think the Mascot costume was getting pretty old since there were already a few spots that lost the purple fur. And the material was also tearing up around his mouth and arms. I think it was Anna who told Grimace that she'd give him some Fabric Softener to smoothen and protect his fur!

But, of course, the center of attention was still on the Birthday Girl, Tin. She looked really great! We were quite awed by her look! It was the first time I saw Tin in a backless, plunging neck-line, halter dress! And here I thought she was conservative! Lol!

But hey! She's already 25! She can wear whatever she darn wants! Right, Tin?!? By the way, great singing there!

Just a few shout outs to our friends who were there: MeggyJelly, Marvin, Anna, Caloy, Gorgeous Gwadz, Beng, Richie, Jay... I really had a blast!

Below are just a few of the pics we took of this unforgettably fun event.

Again... Happy Birthday, Tin!

-= o O o =-

The Birthday Girl

Tin Singing...

Wishing For A...

Me and My Boyfriend, Grimace

Pam and Grimace

Grimace is a Chick Magnet!

MeggyJelly and Grimace

Mr. Universe Finalists?!?

Gorgeous Gwadz Showing Her Beautiful Back To Grimace

Baby Beng And Grimace

Grimace With The Kiddies

Ang GALIS Ni Grimace!

Kuliiiitttt!!!

Parlor Game Winners!

Marvin, Jopay & Moi

Anna, Pam & Beng

Me & The Gorgeous... Nurse Gwadz!

Dimsum Crazy!!!

I must admit... I am Dimsum Crazy.

I've loved dimsum, since I could remember. I remember having Sunday Dinners at Maxim's Tea House in T.M. Kalaw and Roxas Boulevard (right across from the US Embassy) when I was a little kid. We'd order different types of dimsum, which would serve as our dinner. Our parents would order their own food, while we feast on Pork Siomai, Shrimp Dumplings and Beef Siomai.

As I grew older, I discovered other types of dimsum that caught my palate's fancy.

My first dibs on another form of dimsum, away from my usual Maxim's Siomai, were Mr. & Mrs. Teo's Boiled Dumplings and Kuchay Pie from my High School Cafeteria. They became my staple food in High School (since I was saving my absurdly small allowance). Though they came cheap, they were really good! Yum!

Then, I discovered Gloria Maris... Probably the Best Dimsum I have ever had! They had those rolling dimsum carts that go around the tables. I'd grab whatever caught my fancy. And their Shrimp Dumplings (Hakaw)?!? WOW! Just the thought makes my mouth water...

Then, my equal fascination with Japanese Food lead me to discover Gyoza, which, right now, makes me realize something... It tastes just like Potstickers!!! But, anyway...

When I went to the States, for a brief vacation, my cousins taught me the art of eating Potstickers! We'd buy frozen Potstickers from Costco and boil them. Mmmm... Good with soy sauce... And Chili... And Lime! Mmmm...!!!

Since I got back to the Philippines, I haven't had Potstickers. I've been looking high and low for frozen Potstickers, and couldn't find them! Then, one night, while contemplating on where to order food for delivery (it was a holiday, so almost everyone's closed), I chanced upon North Park Noodle House. I requested for a copy of their Menu via fax, then... Lo and behold! The most beautiful words popped on their Appetizer Menu... POTSTICKERS!

And I had a choice between Steamed and Fried! Being the steamed dimsum freak that I was, I ordered 6 pieces of Potstickers (along with some steamed rice and North Park's Aniseed Beef Tendon Stew).

When my meal came, I just couldn't control myself... It was love at first bite! I couldn't get enough of my Potstickers! I ended up completely ignoring the rice and Beef Stew! Lol!

Though it kinda hurts my pockets to buy from North Park, I just couldn't help myself. I'd order my Potstickers. Just this afternoon, I shared some with my Sister. We had a North Park Lunch at home.

Now... How can I make myself some??? Hmmm...

All Souls' Day Wish

November 2 is marked as All Souls' Day in Catholic Calendars. It's supposed to be the day when we solemnly celebrate the lives of our departed loved ones. But since time immemorial, we observe this "tradition" during All Saints' Day (November 1).

It is during this season, which has been commercially known as Halloween, that people, continuously, talk about ghouls, ghosts, and those things that come bump in the night. TV Shows would also have specials that were designed to scare the crap out of anybody.

Last night, I got to thinking... If we could make wishes for our birthdays, why not make a wish that concerns our dearly departed?

I have always wished, since I was a kid, to see my Maternal Grandparents just for one day. My Maternal Grandparents died just 10 Months apart, back in 1988. It was quite a traumatic year for us, when they died.

Both of them had sudden deaths. My Grandfather died after suffering from a massive stroke in their house in Malolos, while my Grandmother was visiting us in Manila. After just a mere 10 Months, my Grandmother died at the Light Rail Transit Station, after suffering from a heart attack. Both were declared dead on arrival at the hospital.

I was only 8 years old when my Grandfather died, and 9 years old, when my Grandmother passed. I loved them both very much and I've since longed to see them once again. I want to know how they've been... How they've felt about everything that happened to us... How everything could've been a lot more different had they been alive.

But what I really want to do, most of all, is to hug them and kiss them both. I haven't touched them for 17 years, and life has been really cold and miserable without their touch and presence.

Just writing this entry makes my eyes water. I miss them so much. And celebrating All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day doesn't ease the pain.

If God could just grant me that one wish, I would be happy.

I miss you, Lolo and Lola. I love you. Until we meet again.