THE WINNERS
Top 3 Winners
1. Mnel- First Kiss
Lauren says This story is captivating because it focuses on just one aspect of the love story - the first kiss. Other events and details were written in such a way as to emphasize the magic of that moment.
2. Lady Cess- The Promise of a Fairy Godmother
Lauren says that Her love story has a great hook and an interesting twist. I love how the ending leaves a lot to the imagination.
3. KingDaddyRich- Siya
Lauren says It was a bit of a struggle to read his entry because it’s written in Tagalog, but I love how he made poetic use of the language to create imagery that stays.
Runners-up
1. Kongkong - The End of Friendship
2. Fitz- A Valentine’s Date to Remember
3. Mr. Z- Strange Times My Dear
As a couple, Butch and I celebrate three anniversaries: the day we met, the day we became steadies and the day we got married. See, that’s how big I am with celebrations and anniversary dates. Celebration is a high form of praise of gratitude. To celebrate is to delight in the gift, to show gratitude. And that’s what I intend to do today. Celebrate the day that Butch and I first met each other 30 years ago.
I sifted through the yellowed pages of my diary to that day when I first met my ex-boyfriend at the UP Campus Shopping Center. I laughed at my entry because apparently, I was in love with another guy that day I met Butch. I simply forgot about it and it explains why I did not fall for Butch right away.
I was dating this guy, let’s call him Mark, a Senior Veterinarian student. Though we were not officially a couple, we often ate out together at the Shopping Center. That night, my brother dropped by my dorm and we went to the Shopping Center where I caught Mark eating at Rodics. The nerve, he didn’t even invite me. I felt he was avoiding me. I ran back to the dorm and cried in bed. Then I thought, maybe I should go back and talk to him. Luckily my roommate wanted to go to the Shopping Center. I peeped in all the eating places looking for Mark. Over at Lizettes, I caught two of my roommates sitting beside a cute guy which turned out to be Butch. They called me over to join them.
Still frustrated at Mark, I ranted about my “Mark” problems to my roommates. Laughing, they adviced me to talk to Butch about my boy problems. So I turned to Butch who seemed eager to listen to me. While talking to him about Mark being such a snob and all, I noticed Butch wasn’t paying attention to my litany of Mark rants. He was staring at me, almost stripping me giving me such a seductive look. I felt so awkward and uncomfortable. To top it all, my roommates noticed it and started teasing me. I stopped talking to him and turned away from his direction. But he was still staring and had the gall to say You have beautiful eyes…that look in your eyes in front of my friends. How very untrue. I had bloodshot eyes from crying over Mark. Ack.
And that’s how I met him that day, January 26, 1978. Our love story doesn’t end there, of course. Obviously, it was Butch who was more love struck than me.
So what is this Love Struck Writing Contest? I thought of giving back to my readers, visitors and lurkers part of the prize money I won from winning Best Website (Blogs Category) in the last 10th Philippine Web Awards.
Prize
- Three (3) winners receive US$ 50.00 each for top 3 Love Struck entries.
Three (3) lifetime (for the life span of my Protagonist WebHosting) domain and hosting plan worth $30.00 each. Prize is transferrable but NOT convertible to cash.
Duration January 26, till February 23. Winners to be announced on February 24,2008 which is my second blog anniversary.
Rules- Open to all Single or Married Couples
-
1. Write a blog entry on a Love Struck moment. The object of the love struck moment should be a person, not a thing, animal or place.
2. Post the link of your story in the comments section below. (Email the link to noemidado@gmail.com in case your comment get’s caught in Akismet)
A link to this contest is required so more can join.
3. Entry will be judged by my love struck daughter, Lauren. She will choose the top 3 winners and 3 consolation prize winners.
So start writing! Come and celebrate the day with me.
Love Struck Entries
1. Mitch - Two Weeks
2. Edelweiza - Against All Odds
3. Kiel - Thank You Daddy
4. Lad- Joy of Having Joy
5. Peko-peko - Love Struck Writing contest; ng pumana si Kupido
6. Marjie - Darion: the introduction
7. Fitz- A Valentine’s Date to Remember
8. Rolly- Love Story
9. Mhel- The Whirl of Love
10. Ami- In that Room
11.Ann- Postcards
12.Yoru- Reminiscing the Small Red Box
13. Em Dy- Not Love Struck All the Time
14. Jesy- Perfect 10
15. Kreez- Right under my nose
16. Mhalou- Unforgettable
17. Mec- Love Struck
18. Summer- Love Struck
19. issai- Love, a change in perspective
20. KingDaddyRich- Siya
21. Klinne- Nang dahil sa YM
22. Karmi- Dahil sa isang bote ng Coke
23. JHS- It All Began at Chuck E. Cheese’s
24. Buds- Sleeping Prince
25. Vloe- One More Time
26. Dakilang Tambay - Crush
27. D. Superwomom - Love “Trip”
28. Jel- The Story of Us
30. Michelle - Happy 11th Monthsary, Mahal!
31. Igno- Drive: fairy-tale ng man in waiting
32. Isel- Ocean Avenue
33. Ria Jose- The Cheesiest Songs
34. Bojoy- Utopian Dream
35. Joanna Marie- Love Struck Writing Contest
36. Romy Diaz- quickie
37. Joaquin- Second Time Around
38. Vylette- Harana
39. Cherry Mae- sAkit nA dULot nYa..
40. Lingling- Taluhan
41. Andrea- the story of us
42. Woobie- Friendship Driven Love Affair
43. Eliza- Book Perfect
44. Lady Cess- The Promise of a Fairy Godmother
45. Kongkong - The End of Friendship
46. Mnel- First Kiss
47. Mr Z- Strange Times My Dear
Send Flowers this Valentine’s Day
This is about me ( a 
Twas great seeing
Entries (RSS)
January 26th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
i love your story noemi! nakakakilig!
i’ve posted our love struck moment many times already, but I’ll join this contest anyway. wait for my entry!
January 26th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
this is going to be lots of fun, noemi!
January 26th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
what a sweet story
i am obliged to join this contest but i dont know if my hubby would approve sharing our supposed to be ’secret’ real love story… let me think about it. my husband remembers those first dates… and i dont, hahaha. at least he pokes me when the date would be nearing so i could prepare, too. what a lousy wife i am 
January 26th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Hi Noemi. Thanks for sharing how you met your husband. It shows how love can come very unexpected.
This is a great contest and I would love to be part of it.
January 27th, 2008 at 3:14 am
I’m in! :p have to dig my previous entries about our love story hihihihi!
January 27th, 2008 at 4:00 am
[…] So, what is this Love Struck Writing Contest all about? I would suggest that you visit and read her blog to get the exact details, and feel free to join… if you wish to… […]
January 27th, 2008 at 4:00 am
Here’s my entry
January 27th, 2008 at 9:29 am
A very beautiful story Noemi. Happy anniversary to you and Butch!
January 27th, 2008 at 9:31 am
aliwwww! sa mga married couples lang ba ito?
January 27th, 2008 at 9:53 am
@ajay - Open to all. Single or Married!
January 27th, 2008 at 10:45 am
The way you described Butch, he was totally smitten. And nothing gets to a guys heart than a damsel in distress. I think it brings out the inner “knight in shining armor” in them
Love this contest. I too have posted our “love story” but I’d love to re-post it for this contest
January 27th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
astig! kakakilig! you can count me in on this…in some of my blogs, i mentioned about my dad’s baby..i think, i can give it a try sharing how everything really started for us…more power to u!
January 27th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
my husband is too shy about this..but in the spirit of romance and love..i’ll definitely join!!!
January 28th, 2008 at 9:33 am
i was browsing the pages of the future blogs i will feature in my entrecard and it lead me directly to your blog.
my first time here, and I should say, reading your profile, I got courage in you that you will recover, and i now you have, from your sons death.
anyway, i wish you all the best. have a nice day ahead. God is with us always. have a great morning.
January 28th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Hi Ms. Noemi! This is fun. Can I join? Here’s my entry
Thanks.
January 28th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
my previous comment is not posted.. cguro nasa spam section po… waaaahhh…
January 28th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
hi Noemi, it’s been a long time haven’t come back here! nice to be back today. thanks to this ongoing love struck contest of yours.
this is a very interesting contest. and you got a very wonderful love story. I am thinking to join but i still have to think when ws the time i was love struck. LOL!
January 28th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Hi. My friend Lisa suggested that I join your contest. She thinks I’m still love struck.
Here’s my entry
January 28th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
It’s a nice contest…You know Noemi, I think I get in love with this site. This site talk a lot about love, couple. and family relationship. Very useful for marital life.
January 29th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
yiheeee! hehehehe. ang danda ng labstory. try ko din sumulat para makasali.
January 29th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
@yatot, arlene, viona, and pao- PLEASE join or if you can’t just promote it in your blog. Who knows you might have love struck readers out there?
@kongkong, phoebz, dhanggit, lad and all the others - I am waiting for your entries!
January 30th, 2008 at 1:46 am
My entry is HERE.
Have a nice day.
January 30th, 2008 at 8:32 am
oh yes… definitely… i will join this contest! hahhhahaa… now… got to dig up that frustrated love story of mine.. hhahahahha
January 30th, 2008 at 10:27 am
Nakakahiyang sumali. :p
January 30th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
@Lad- posted the link in the entry. Thanks
@yatot– sige hope to read it soon
@ederic- you can always “change” the name.
January 31st, 2008 at 6:20 am
Another contest? =)
Well, I have another entry and I feel that my chances of winning again is quite good. I will post it later this morning because I have to edit it first to customize with your “love struck” subject. I also found the right way to end my blog courtesy of this post. Hahaha…
Can’t wait to post my entry. =)
January 31st, 2008 at 11:12 am
dear noemi,
call me a stalker or lurker but i am a great big fan of ur blog. i never commented kasi some points were raised by the first readers. well anyway i will join ur contest. exciting ito. wait for my story ha…..
January 31st, 2008 at 11:14 am
@rollly- yes I can’t wait either. I am a sucker for love stories. hehe
@arny- lurker is a better word. Not stalker naman. It’s okay. But I want to see that story soon . Spread the word!
January 31st, 2008 at 11:55 am
My love story started when my father died. He was bedridden for 2 years. He died peacefully. It was a relief for all of us and most especially for him. He left us penniless. To augment the family he left behind i started tutoring grade school kids. I was from UP. (87) Parents flock to us because of our academic excellence. Filipino-Chinese in genes, i came to the employ of another fil-chi. The mother seeing me unemployed, and with a zero love life started making rounds of introducing me to her nephew and then to her friend’s son. The first was a complete comedy. Unkempt, chubby but smart i am in no hurry to be hooked up and i wasn’t attracted. The other one was a no spark.
I told my boss (the mother of my wards) hinay-hinay lang!! (go slow please). she heeded my plea, thank God. One day i went with her collection secretary to get a check from a company who have an outstanding balance. To kill time since i am waiting for my students. I was awestruck with the employee who accommodated my companion. Filipino Chinese din, he is dashingly handsome and clean-neat looking. I asked my companion who he was and she told him maybe it is the brother of the owner. I was giddingly high school smitten!! I told the mother of my wards hook me up pronto!! She happily obliged.(chineses are fond of matching and they get an ampao(red envelope with cash or anything) for a good match and ending). She did introduce me to the brother of the owner but it is the wrong guy!! The guy that i apparently like was the nephew.Tough luck!! But i cant tell her it is the wrong man. nakakahiya. But he asked me politely my phone number. (this is circa early 90’s. no cellphone at that time ha!!) He is okay and not dashingly-handsome-clean-neat guy but averagely will do. No light bulb and no sparks flew.
The next day he called me and i accommodated his hellos. and in the next days ahead, months and years he would call me untiringly. He pursued me diligently. He has plans. His nephew was a playboy and no spendthrift. My man was completely his opposite. God pushed me to him and him to me. But i think it was my dad’s spirit. I am thankful. It has been 12 years we were married. I am so blessed. And so was my boss. She got a fat ampao!!
It was a secret up to now that i once had a crush on his nephew and not even my husband knows this. But i love my husband with all my heart and soul. And i am grateful.
January 31st, 2008 at 6:35 pm
hi there, here is the link to my entry:
February 1st, 2008 at 12:05 am
Waaahhhh! My comment and my entry somehow did not get through earlier this morning! It seems that it is being blocked by Akismet. Maybe because it’s a Friendster blog. So I just sent you the link.
I wrote the blog a few months ago and I just edited the second to the last paragraph to customize with the subject of this contest and found a better way to end my blog. Thanks to the inimitable Noemi Dado. =)
February 1st, 2008 at 8:35 am
Hey Noemi,
I’m interested in joining my entry the contest. I posted a “Love truck” entry this month, and I’m not trying my luck on it. Please give it visit here when you get a chance. I’ll also email you the link to make sure
Cheers always,
~Marjie
February 1st, 2008 at 8:39 am
@rolly- I saw your link. Please add the link to this contest and make your entry show the current period of the contest. (between January 26 to February 23). Your old love story entry is acceptable but just have to make it current.
@marjie- thanks so much!
February 1st, 2008 at 8:45 am
ow, I meant “NOW” trying my luck….lol…sorry! emailed you narin
February 2nd, 2008 at 8:30 am
Hi Noemi,
I received your reply. So the blog to be entered should be written within the promo period and I need to re-post my blog to update it to this date so that I can join. I’m not sure if I’m willing to do that. It was one of those “spur-of-the-moment” writing and I don’t want to re-post it because it would lose the significance of the date. I know I did update it and added a paragraph but only so that I can join your contest and the date I wrote it was retained.
However I still want to join the contest. I’ll think about it. =)
Thanks!
February 2nd, 2008 at 7:12 pm
I want to join din po sana kaso hindi romantic love ang balak kong i-submit hehe tsaka shy me :p
February 3rd, 2008 at 11:27 pm
Hi Noemi,
The link is still being blocked but I sent you the link in your email. Thanks! More power to your blog and God Bless.
February 4th, 2008 at 12:26 am
[…] Abe posts in PTB about the Asus EEE Design Contest. I’ve got design ideas. If I could only find a designer to team up with… Noemi has a Lovestruck Writing Contest going on to celebrate her 3 anniversaries. Filipina Stories from WikiPilipinas in collaboration with Filipina Images. Winners will be announced at the unveiling of the Encyclopedia of Philippine Women. […]
February 6th, 2008 at 6:43 am
what a “sweet contest!” lemme see if our love story would be “nakakakilig enough” to be an entry.
February 8th, 2008 at 7:56 am
Hi Noemi,
My entry can be found here.
Thanks and more power!
February 8th, 2008 at 9:03 am
[…] This is my entry to Noemi’s Love Struck Writing Contest. To read about the mechanics of the contest, click here. An advance valentines day post. […]
February 8th, 2008 at 9:06 am
It took me some time to write our very own love story but it’s worth it.
Here’s my entry Noemi. Hope your readers would like it. Happy V-Day!
February 8th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
Hi Ms. Noemi, my entry is at http://amids.wordpress.com entitled: In That Room: A Lovestruck Entry. Sorry I don’t know how to put a link here.
February 9th, 2008 at 12:49 am
[…] ♦♦♦ I may not have found mine yet, but I believe everyone should have their happily ever after. If you’ve found yours, you’re welcome to share it with the rest of us through Mrs. Noemi Dado’s Love-Struck Writing Contest, found on her blog. […]
February 9th, 2008 at 1:06 am
hi noemi,
congratulations on your anniversary…may you and your husband reach many more milestones in your marriage.
this sounds like a fun contest, here’s the link to my entry
thanks!
February 9th, 2008 at 1:54 am
[…] For the sake of Ms. Noemi’s Love Struck contest. For the spirit of the Valentine season. For simply remembering Fluffy, how our story started and how I’ve grown to love him. […]
February 9th, 2008 at 2:57 am
Ms. Noemi, I’m joining the contest
My entry is here.
Reminiscing the small red box
February 12th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
My entry…Not Love Struck All the Time
February 13th, 2008 at 9:34 am
the post brings back lots of memories
here’s my take:
thanks!
February 14th, 2008 at 5:36 am
Hi Ms Noemi,
Thanks for the opportunity to share and read about sweet moments in time for valentines day. here is the link to my entry:
February 14th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Hi Ms. Noemi,
I’m giving this a try…here’s my story:
http://alessaundrei.blogspot.com/2008/02/unforgettable.html
February 14th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
[…] Did I ever tell the story of how Dearest and I came to be together? No? Well then you’re in luck! Since there are two writing contests this month on topics of love, Love Struck at Touched By An Angel and the Write Away contest at Scribbit, I thought I would share the weird and wonderful way we met. […]
February 14th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
I wrote a post for the contest too.
February 15th, 2008 at 4:08 am
[…] Everyday is a love stuck day for me. Happy Valentine’s Day to all! […]
February 15th, 2008 at 4:09 am
Hi noemi,
here’s my post. not really a love story but something that means a lot to me.
http://www.ladygadfly.com/blog/?p=287
February 15th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
happy valentines day noemi!
February 16th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
hi miss noime.. i didnt expect na kaw rin po pala nagmemaintain ng blog na ito.. we met on trinoma bloggers food tour.. by the way.. i would like to share my own lovestruck moment.. here it is…
http://kingdaddyrich.blogdrive.com/archive/82.html
February 17th, 2008 at 2:10 am
whew, finally nakagawa din ako ng bl0g… nice story, you really are meant for each other… kze, he was there when you needed a shoulder to cry on… I want to join your contest… here’s my link http://creamymomma.blogspot.com/
February 17th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
[…] napadpad ako sa blog ni ate noemi at nakita ko ung Love Struck Writing Contest nya. dahil sa dami nang entries ko dito sa blog na panay tungkol sa pag-ibig, naisipan kong sumali. naghalungkat ako ng aking blog at itong entry na ito ang napili ko.. […]
February 17th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
hi ate noemi.. i want to join this contest.
ito po ung entry ko.. ^_^
http://idlip.net/2008/02/16/love-struck-writing-contest/
thank you po..
tc! ^_^
– karmi
February 17th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Here’s my entry. The title is “It All Began at Chuck E. Cheese’s” –
http://www.jhsiess.com/2007/02/12/chuck-e-cheeses/
February 17th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
i will join! weeeeeeeeeeee
February 17th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Hi this is my entry!
We are crossing our fingers!
thank you for this opportunity
- Buds and Jaypee
February 18th, 2008 at 10:38 am
hi noemi i really enjoy reading all of the entries for Love struck writing contest and I try to joined also.
the url of my exclusive blog for this contest…
http://richardarlyn.wordpress.com/
thank you so much…..
February 18th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
hi ate noime, i want to join. here’s my entry for this contest.
thank you so much
February 18th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Hi Ms Noemi,
Thank you for this opportunity to share our lovestruck moment. Here’s my entry.
Salamat ng marami.
February 18th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Hi! Here’s my entry for the contest
February 19th, 2008 at 12:14 am
how cool! i don’t have a lovestruck story to share, but i love reading the other entries! galing naman.
i’ll promote na lang to my site….
February 19th, 2008 at 12:23 am
[…] Yet again, while bloghopping through Entrecard, I came across this site. And since I have no entry to put in (Lovestruck-less and romance-less kse) I thought I’d share with you, just in case you’re interested. I mean, it is still a heart month. […]
February 19th, 2008 at 1:31 am
Hi Noemi!
I’d like to join your contest. Here’s my entry.
Thanks!
February 19th, 2008 at 7:32 am
here’s mine:
thanks for this site, i’ve read different love stories…
February 19th, 2008 at 7:34 am
hi, ms. noemi! i just want to try if i can enter the contest…here’s the link of my love story…
i love reading these kinds of stories…thanks to your blog, i have all the time to read other entries as well while i’m under medication as of the moment..
happy valentine’s…
and advanced happy anniversary….
February 19th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Hi ate naomi..
Puwede po bang sumali?
Eto po ang link ng entry ko..
http://lobo.idlip.net/?p=57
maraming salamat po…
ps. Ang galing po ng contest.
February 19th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
[…] Entry for Love Struck Contest ni Ate Naomi […]
February 20th, 2008 at 6:30 am
hi te naomi.. pwede ba po bah mka habol sa contest??? tommorow ko na post sa blog ko.. ng fifinalized pa po ako sa aking story
gusto ko mka habol pwwss..
February 20th, 2008 at 10:31 am
Pahabol! Here’s my entry. I figured my entry is not as kilig as the others but what the heck, everything’s fair in love.
February 21st, 2008 at 12:33 am
Here’s my story… LINK.
February 21st, 2008 at 1:18 am
Hahabol din ako. Eto po ENTRY. ko..
February 21st, 2008 at 10:26 am
hi! hi! eto na poh yung story. :D. . enjoy.
February 21st, 2008 at 11:22 pm
pasali din!
http://deardiarya.blogspot.com/2008/02/quickie.html
February 22nd, 2008 at 7:31 am
Goodmorning po. Can I join this uber amazing contest of yours Ate Naomi?
Here’s the link to my entry.. Thank you..
entry second time
February 22nd, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Hi po. I wasn’t planning on joining because I didn’t really have a great story to tell. Glad boyfriend saved Valentine’s weekend (after I ruined it. hehe). Here’s my entry: http://www.violetdolor.com/?p=42
February 22nd, 2008 at 2:35 pm
pwede pa p0h bang sumali?!
hmm..
eto p0h entry ko..
~.^
February 22nd, 2008 at 4:59 pm
[…] sumali na din ako sa pakontest ni noemi.. last day na to, sana makahabol pa ang entry ko.. […]
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:03 pm
first time ko pong mapadpad dito sa site ninyo dahil sa pinost ni mr d na entry niya sa pakontest na ito.. hmm.. gusto ko din pong sumali! eto po ang entry ko:
my entry
February 23rd, 2008 at 12:25 am
February 23 11:59 PM is the deadline! I will announce winner anytime on February 24l
February 23rd, 2008 at 12:50 am
I hope I made it before the cutoff time!
my entry
February 23rd, 2008 at 12:53 am
yes woobie. Deadline is still feb 23 at 11:59 PM
February 23rd, 2008 at 9:07 am
Hi, here’s my entry: titled ‘Book Perfect.”
February 23rd, 2008 at 2:10 pm
[…] This is my entry for Noemi’s Love Struck Writing Contest. […]
February 23rd, 2008 at 2:12 pm
here’s mine
http://one-twentyone.com/2008/02/23/the-promise-of-a-fairy-godmother/
February 23rd, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Hi, it is actually my first time to visit the blog site and when I read about the “lovestruck writing contest”, I thought of sending in my story which I’ve written a year ago…
I felt that sharing my lovestruck moment is like reliving the very time when I first felt it. Thanks for the chance. Good luck to everyone who joined!
Here’s the link: http://jrealm.blogs.friendster.com/jrealm/2007/02/a-love-story-te.html
February 23rd, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Here’s the corrected link
http://jrealm.blogs.friendster.com/jrealm/2007/02/a_love_story_te.html
February 23rd, 2008 at 4:33 pm
@jinky -please make a new entry with a link to show the old story and follow the links needed to join the contest.
February 23rd, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Hi Noemi!! Here’s my entry
http://scroochchronicles.blogspot.com/2008/02/0319the-end-of-friendship.html
February 23rd, 2008 at 11:10 pm
hello po! i’m joining the contest. here’s the link to my entry. ^_^ cheers!
http://docmnel.com/ladolcevita/blog/?p=1
February 23rd, 2008 at 11:12 pm
[…] This is an entry for the Love Struck writing contest by Ms. Noemi. […]
February 23rd, 2008 at 11:12 pm
Good Evening! This is Korean Salon HairNews Mrs.Park.
Today one customer came to our shop and she told me our shop is very nice in website. and I want to know their website and I search it. and it’s your website and also i remember you. thanks for submit my picture & good comments. Happy New year and God bless you. See you!
February 24th, 2008 at 1:53 am
[…] This is dedicated to Anna, who inspires me and challenges me, every day. The simple fact that we even have a relationship, given the distance that separates us, is a blessing. I live and work in Iraq, while Anna calls Manila her home. She first caught my eye in the pages of a personals website, with two lovely pictures, and an engaging (written) profile. Lovely eyes, a confident expression that seemed to dare me to respond. Educated, well-traveled. And a nickname I just couldn’t figure out. Everything about her demanded my attention, in a way others simply couldn’t.I really had no idea what I was in for. After reading and re-reading her profile, I took several drafts to write my own, emailed introduction. I knew that I had to produce an email as engaging to her as her profile was to me. Apparently, I succeeded, because she answered me within a day or two. The notes and simple banter that followed were a delight to me. Always engaging, with a teasing nature that brought my own sense of humor to the fore in each of my replies. Happily, she seemed to enjoy all my quips and comments, and clearly relished the attention I gave her, as I drew her out with my words, attentive to every scrap of detail she offered me, eager to form a more complete picture of this mystery woman. Did I hold her interest, as well? The emails certainly seemed to say “yes”, but we both held back, enjoying contact, but not risking any real commitment.One thing was certain - I felt alive, for the time every day it took to read, and re-read, her emails to me, reading her profile so often, I had nearly committed it to memory. Then, something happened. For four days, after more than a week of daily contact through website IMs and email, she was lost to me. I was frantic - her profile was inactive, and no new emails crowded my inbox, demanding my attention, eager for my response. All I could do was reread her old emails, and wish I’d known then how to download her profile pictures from the site. Desperate, I turned to a friend who had always been willing to share his advice with me, I was certain there’d be something he could do to calm me, and free me from this dilemma. I’d just met Ajay, and was certainly, in my smitten state, not ready to go “cold turkey”, by any stretch of the imagination. I turned to Uncle Google . Her online nick was distinctive - that’s where my search began. What I found was a revelation - and a new appreciation of just how busy this girl’s day was. You see, I found her blog. I found a woman who has traveled more extensively in her lifetime than I have in my Military career. Blogs compulsively about her enduring love affair with Manila, the Philippines, and Philippine cuisine. Works as a columnist for the Manila Bulletin, with weekly entries in print and online, on a topic near and dear to my heart - gadgets! Works in a casino - Hey! I worked in a casino once, too. Sort of. Maybe there’s hope for us? With over three years of posts, and 1600 pictures on Flickr, I was hooked. And sleepless - there was quite a bit of research to be done here, after all. Uncle Google came through for me - in Spades. But the most engaging part, for me, remained her writing about Manila - my Uncle’s words on Manila (he lives near Baguio) fell by the wayside, stories about the Philippines from old shipmates fell by the wayside. Everything else fell by the wayside. I had found a guide, willing to show me a new country, and a new culture, in answer to the wanderlust the Navy had given me, twenty years ago. To put it simply, I was sprung. But I was working with information that hadn’t been offered to me, at this point. I felt myself equal parts voyeur and trespasser - did I have the right? For two days, I was torn, constantly rewriting or discarding my attempts to regain her attention - humor was a must, but I needed to tantalize her, engage her mind as completely as possible, and speak to a topic that would show my interest to learn more about her, and her world. Couldn’t sound pathetic, either - even if I maligned myself jokingly as “a needy little b***h”. I asked her about blogging, of course. With a simple question that showed I was aware of her own blog. Finally, she writes me back! Her response floored me. With her usual humor and teasing, even if she professed to “hate” Google. Surprised that I’d found her online, when she used an email address created specifically so she could distance herself from a troublesome suitor. I couldn’t read her mood well, though, and her last words chilled me, a phrase commonly used in the States to show disinterest. Ugh. Now I’ve gone and done it. Then, she emails me the next day - seems she can’t match my own results with Google, and wants me to explain how, exactly, I found her!Since that day, we have been simply “stealing time”, using every scrap of free time and imagination we have to hold each other’s attention, and affection, and keep one another close in our thoughts and our hearts.I wrote this post in response to a teasing challenge from Ajay, when Noemi invited her to participate in the Love-Struck Writing Contest, after Ajay “outed” me on her blog! She demurred, saying her new love story couldn’t hope to compete with the “old-timers”, even though it was clear that she was intrigued by the offer.In classic Girl Friend fashion, the post became MY responsibility, added to my “honeydew” list (Honey, do this, Honey do that!) Here’s to you, Mah Dear! Thanks must go to Noemi, as well, for an engaging contest that captured my imagination. My sincere thanks to everyone who takes the time to read this. […]
February 24th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
[…] I learned about the Love Struck Writing Contest by Ms. Noemi a few days before the deadline. I was hesitant to join because I had so much to read and do for the next few days for school but my good online buddy Igno, prodded me. (Guess who won the argument? *wink*) […]
March 1st, 2008 at 4:02 am
[…] If you enjoyed my story above, then why don’t you visit Noemi’s blog and read the other entries for the Love Struck Writing Contest and maybe you could get more romantic inspirations and practical ideas on how to celebrate this season of hearts. […]
March 29th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
[…] Lovestruck - Mahigit isang buwan na ang nakalilipas nang manalo ang aking lathala sa pakontes ni Ms. Noemi Dado na Lovestruck Writing Contest. Wala akong planong sumali dahil malapit na ang deadline ng mga entries noon ngunit hinikayat ako ni Manager kaya last minute talaga nang ako ay sumali. Laking gulat ko nang malaman kinabukasan na nanalo ako. Di ako makapaniwala. Wala yata akong ginawa buong maghapon kung hindi ang tumawa ng tumawa sa paglalarong iyon ni tadhana. Nahiya tuloy ako kay Manager dahil sinabi ko pang tatawanan ko talaga siya pag hindi siya nanalo. Sa bandang huli ay ni hindi ko nga nagawang tawanan si Igno ng mga panahong iyon pero ngayong mahigit isang buwan na ang nakalilipas, siguro naman ay naka-move on na siya sa pagiging bitter at pwede ko nang tuparin ang aking pangako. Kaya naman Igno, ito’y para sa iyo: BWAHAHAHAHA. […]