Thank you everyone for writing your letters, all very touching. Cocorose and I came up with a common choice and she is Joan Tuazon!
THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED. 
I am feeling inspired to give you an early Christmas present and so is Cocorose London! I’m feeling very grateful for all the support, words of encouragement and love I feel from you, my readers. In turn, I would like to get some inspiration from you.
Mechanics:
1. “LIKE” these Facebook pages:
2. In a comment on this blog post below, please tell me something awesome about your best friend. Send me a story on what makes your friendship special and what makes your “best friend” story different. This will give you a chance to win a pair of shoes for you and your friend. Remember, you have to leave it in a comment under this blog post.
3. On November, 25 I will announce the WINNER on my Facebook page and my Instagram, as well as here on this blog post. Cocorose London and I will select the lucky winner.
Bear in mind, that I take my friendships seriously. I regard loyalty, honesty and selflessness very highly. I strive to keep my friendships solid and really make sure I give as much as I take, and more. Here are some snippets of my blog launch. I kept it small and invited some of my closest friends and those that really helped in the development of my blog. Some of my friends were abroad. Another friend, Lucy, was stuck in Congress, but I am forever grateful to her, because she encouraged me to hire a girl named Isabel. Isabel (Gatuslao), is the lady responsible for my blogs beautiful layout and design. She also did the branding for my food products. I was not able to invite her because she had flown to Spain to study some more graphic design. Separately, I had a “cousins” party at home because (my husbands) cousins were also my big support group as I was developing this blog. I always tell my children how important friendships are in our life and how we should really treasure those that have been there for us in the good and bad, highs and lows. I hope this gives you an idea of how deep I want your story to be. It does not have to be long. I just want to be inspired.
L-R: Melba, Small, Marj, Michelle, Ana, Kaye
L-R Mons, Melba & Alice
L-R (standing) Dez, Manang Vicky, Honey (my friend since childhood, 30 years almost!) Cora, Rorie L-R (seated) Pinky, me, Joy,Manang Tintin, Pia (Buang’s are not complete, missing Jen and Candy)
Pia (so game! she came in “french flair theme” even if I asked last minute)
You guys get the idea, right? I’m looking forward to your “best friend story.”
Hi! My best friend is Karol Canlas. Awesome is an understatement in describing her. She is a woman whose heart is full of love for all those around her. We’ve been friends for 16 years and Ive seen first hand how she can be loyal, supportive, selfless and loving. There are a lot of instances I could cite but this I will share because this she does every day, every minute of her life. She is the most wonderful daughter anyone could ask. Her mom and two sisters are abroad working, her father (whom we fondly call Tatang) resides in Pampanga, while Karol works in Manila. Every weekend she goes home to the province to spend time with her father – take him to his Zumba classes, drive him to the mall and buy his grocery for the week. She provides for him too. She pays for all his needs (medicines, food and clothes) and for his wants (beer and crispy pata). Hence, little is left for her own personal vanity. I would really want to win this contest for her because aside from the yey factor that we will win, is the gift that she will have something new this Christmas! I am sure she won’t get anything for herself because she’d rather spend it for her father than for herself.
P.S. I really love your blog. It’s filled with good positive stories. Please don’t get tired of writing and sharing. Hopefully next time, you can write something about your husband and kids. God bless!
My best friend is Anne & we have been friends since 1st year college, we met on the 1st day of our freshman year & from across the room we saw each other & both took mental note “hey that girl is really pretty” (haha true story). We came from different family backgrounds — I from a broken family & Anne from a very a happy one, & yet she always tried to understand me & never judged me, up until this very day 🙂 she is a terribly happy person with a beautiful beautiful soul & we have been there for each other for so many things both big & small — like when her boyfriend died in a car crash when we were only 17, & a lot of my major meltdowns when I was dealing with clinical depression (thankfully gone now when I became Christian many years ago) & a lot of the craziness that came with growing up, working, partying, sleepovers, everything 🙂 now we have both settled down, married, with children, I am based here & Anne in Paris & yet we remain the closest in our hearts & I think what makes the friendship special is all the love & lack of judgement, the space to be one’s true self without pretention & all the inevitable growing up we did together 🙂
For me if you call a person best friend (it does not mean other people whom closed to us but it can also be a member of our family) So I choose my sister Coleen as my best friend, like any other sisters; our relationship was never been perfect but whenever we need each other, we always lend a helping hand to each of us. One of our bonding moments is to eat on restaurants, our favourite pizza had always been on our menu although we try other foods but we are pasta lovers as well as sweets; we are craving for it sooo much!! I always accompany her during shopping errands when she is desperate enough to find an outfit for a certain occasion. Our relationship gets stronger if trials or problems are there, it’s like a test . The best thing we do is to talk about it first before we make such conclusion or a move, not only get moved by our emotions but to think it first!! Like me, she is a fanatic of gadgets and we bought share an enthusiast for it… Our journey and her companionship was really special because unlike others we mostly go with each other and we’re inseparable, well this might be different; their are times most of us don’t consider that in just a circle of our family, we can find a best friend to cherish and to treasure forever.
-The End-
I just want to share with this blog my story of friendship to one of the members of our family 🙂
Hi Ms. Nicole,my bestfriend is my cousin Aileen. She has always been there for me & my family. If I ever needed her to talk to about my life’s frustrations & disappointments, or need help with my children or to just spend time together, she would not think twice & be there for me. She has recently went through rough times the past two years when her parents went through their separation & annullment. She had times when she almost gave up, on life & in love. Especially with what her mom had gone through, she was so scared to trust & love when someone came along during these tough times. But like a light at the end of the tunnel, she saw some good despite the difficulties she was facing & decided to give life & love a chance and surrendered her heart to God & this man. I am so happy to have seen her smile once more, she may have lost her dad & had to be away her mom, but now she has a good man who has been there for her through all these as well. I have no words to describe how strong she is to be able to rise up from all the world has thrown at her. But she deserves to win but most of all, to have her story of courage told, whether we win or not, I am proud to say that no matter what, I have told the world how lucky I am to be able to know someone who is strong & confident as my cousin/family & as my bestfriend. God bless you & hope you pick us so I can surprise my cousin!
Our friendship began inauspiciously.
Liza Mae was new in my place of work sitting with several colleagues happily acquainting herself with the others when i came in and saw the most beautiful light blue bag i have ever seen. Being the gregarious person that i am, i voiced my appreciation out loud, and asked where she got it. to which she replied that it was a free gift she got after buying a bottle of perfume in Manila. Impishly, i said “so i have to buy the perfume to get the bag..=)” and smiled widely. Because she was new and not used to my brand of humor, she was quite offended by my offhand remark, which i came to know of a few months after when i went to see her to offer my stocks of havaianas slippers. No matter how long it has been, it was still fresh from her mind, whereas i cannot recall the incident anymore. She told me she thought i was being bitchy to which i apologized, it not being my intention at all. We started talking – and there started a beautiful friendship.
With Liza Mae, i have learned how to look at things from different views. With her I have learned that simple, everyday activities are the salt of life in the grand scheme of things. It doesn’t matter how long we haven’t seen each other, because when we do finally get together, it always feels like the continuation of our last meeting. With her i can unburden the challenges i face, the struggles i continuously encounter without feeling embarrassed or ashamed because somehow i know she understands. In the same manner that she can be so honest with me, knowing that what we have talked about will remain between the two of us.
There is this feeling of peace when i am with her;
the inner joy that only true friendship unlocks.
My happiest moments features her on a regular basis;
as well as times when it feels like i’m bowed down with insurmountable conditions.
I have told her things about herself that she found hard to accept.
We have argued, contradicted, frustrated and disappointed each other too.
We have laughed, and cried.
We have grown up and met new friends.
We had our share of falling out…BUT we made up
And i won’t have it any other way.
Because it made our friendship stronger.
It made us realize how important it is to communicate.
And no matter how long or short it’s been,
the thought of meeting up ALWAYS sends joy to my heart.
But i will not have it any other way
Aside from being my sister, my Ate Jovie is also my best friend, confidant, shopping companion, critic, and my rock during difficult times and challenging situations. In one word, I would say she is the Wind Beneath my Wings. She is the epitome of a kind, generous, patient and selfless best friend everyone wishes to have and I’m so blessed that she also happens to be my sister.
As sisters we went through the most difficult and painful family crisis and as best friends we have been there for each other every step of step of the way. Our personalities are totally different but we’re so alike in more ways than one.
This sister/best friend of mine is the most selfless person I’ve ever met in my life. While I supported our family financially (medical and otherwise), Ate Jovie was the one who took care of our ailing Mother, Alzeimers-diagnozed Father, and cancer stricken sisters. All of them passed away peacefully under the caring hands of Ate Jovie.
In so many a medical emergency my husband and I went through given the medical condition of our special child (my youngest boy has developmental delay, seizure disorder and esophageal varices), it was my sister Jovie who is the constant person helping us in handling the situation. My sister and best friend have so much love in her heart. She’s bursting with kindness and generosity. She’s one blessing from God that I’m forever grateful.
More than winning this entry, this is my tribute to her unwavering support and unconditional love not just for me and my family, but more so, to our lovely departed loved ones whom Ate Jovie cared and aided until their death. Taking care of one sick family member to another in a span of 15 years is emotionally tiring and physically exhausting but she managed to do it wholeheartedly.
i met my bestfriend (marites nieva mendoza) when i was on junior high school (20yrs ago)…one day, we dropped from a different jeep and walked without making pansinan…hindi pa kasi kami close. mejo tahimik ako non compare sa kanya na old student na from that school kaya marami na syang closes friends…while walking that day bigla akong naghummed ng song na sweet o’mine, exactly the same song na bigla din nya kinanta, nagkatinginan at biglang nagkatawanan. since then, lagi na kaming nag uusap, sabay na din kami madalas sa pag uwi since isang jeep lang ang sinasakyan namin. as time passed by mas lalo kaming naging close sa isat isa at madami talaga kaming common interest in life. then, nong graduation day namin, nagpalitan kami ng gift…nakakatuwa kasi pareho din yong message namin sa card, saying…”you’ll be my bestfriend for life.” until now, we are bestfriends, ngayon na dalaga na ang mga anak namin. we didnt communicate more often, pero we make sure na may time kami sa isat isa in needy times…
Although my best friend and I has a 23-year age gap, miraculously, we do get along very well. From our points of view, beliefs, up to our sense of fashion ( she’s like my personal stylist and shopper) teehee. She sacrificed half of her life for me and to be able to know me better and deeper day by day. She knows me better than anyone can do, even my sighs and way of breathing.
I can’t imagine my life without her, I am proud to say that my MOM is my super ultimate bestfriend ( forever and ever)
I <3 my BESTFRIEND / MOM
P.S. Her birthday is near already :)))
Probably I know I’m too young to join this contest. I really can’t find words that are strong enough to express how much my best friend (Jazmin) mean to me and how much I am thankful for all the things she have shown me through the years, the many things she have done for me and all the times that she we’re there for me. Well, she always uses this quote whenever she talks about our friendship. “Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.” -Eleanor Roosevelt. Yes, I know this quote explains a lot about how our friendship well. We don’t have the perfect friendship but yet we had a lot of ups and down in our relationship. We’ve been through a lot of fights like how friends go through but those fights really helped us to have a stronger relationship. Jazmin is really special to me and she’s willing to help me no matter what the situation holds. Even we have our long distance relationship (Parañaque-Espanya) because she currently lives in her dorm near her school. We never fail to catch up with each other even we’re both busy with our school works. She never fails to listen to my drama and helps me with all the problems I have to face of my life. I love my best friend more than words can say and I will no matter what havens and nothing can ever change that. I joined this contest to show the people how much I am lucky to have a best friend like Jazmin. Plus her birthday is on the end of the month so I just want her to feel more special knowing the fact I joined this contest for her. Hope I’ll be the one who will be picked so that I can surprise my best friend and it will definitely make her happy.
Hi Ms. Nicole 🙂 The mechanics said that My beast friend and I will win a pair of these beautiful shoes, but if and only if you choose me, maybe you can give my two best friends the pair of shoes. My sister- My crazy little sister, our 6 yrs age gap doesn’t help when it comes to understanding one another. Their generation is so much different than ours. They are bolder, stronger and more adventurous, and it scares the hell out of me that at times I get really strict towards her, and this makes me feel bad for there are times that she misinterprets my concern for her. I don’t get to tell her often how awesome she is and how thankful I am to have a sister like her, the pair of shoes would be a great way to show her that despite my strictness she needs to know that I love her more than my life. And I treasure this friendship because it teaches me so much, it teaches me how to be strong for her but gentle towards her, and everything in between. If my sister is a person I was born to be family with, my second best friend is a person I chose to be a part of my family. Her name is Alyanna Goingco (Which coincidentally is a “Katokayo” of mys sister, she was also named Alyanna) I met her during our third year college, and she proved to me that friendship isn’t about who you known the longest but who you met and never left. Since our professor arranged us alphabetically I had the chance to sit beside her and that was where our friendship began. I love her like a sister because she brightens up my life by laughing at my jokes, we can talk for hours and it’s still not enough, we can talk for forever but will never run out of things to talk about. She just really gets and understand me. I love how thoughtful she is, she always surprises me with the little things she buys that she thinks will make me happy, well it does make me happy but not because of the material things it was because of the thought that she cares enough and that she thought of me. I didn’t come from a rich family, that at times when I want to shower my friends with gifts I just spoil them through my imagination, but that’s the things about friendship it doesn’t require anything other than sincerity and genuineness towards one another. Moments and memories are far more important, it’s the love and care that truly matters, and it will be the most enriching thing ever. Friendship is a treasure as the saying goes. Thank you for taking the time to read our stories, there are more touching stories than my story but I had to try, it’s he least I can do for the women who make my life colorful. Whenever I see your IG posts it always makes me smile how beautiful your family is and how lovely your friends are. God bless you Ms. Nicole! And congratulations on your blog! 🙂
First things first. Me and my bestfriend Chelsea Balano started from being friends a year ago when I transferred to her school. Bringing back the old days we went through a lot. Issues, fights, etc. before we became good friends. We have a group at school called girlfriends. We used to hang out like a lot. Chelsea and I became bestfriends when we used to hang around everyday in our village and seldom going to malls with her ex-boyfriend. We have different aspects in life, different attitude, religion, point of view, likes and dislikes. But we also have a lot in common. During our dark days I value our friendship more than anything else. I don’t want her life to be in danger, I want her to have fun but yeah everything has limitations right? I don’t want her life to be miserable. I want her safe and sound. I let her sleep in my lap whenever we ride a cab from parties. Whenever she’s drunk she’s my priority. I don’t want boys to take advantage of her when she’s drunk. I even sneak out of the house just to be with her because I love her. I love her to bits and pieces. She’s a part of our family, and my life. We do a lot of good things and bad things together. Words can’t express our friendship and love for each other. Now she’s migrating to japan and I don’t want to lose her. I will surely miss her. The memories we had will always be in my mind. She’s a great woman and the guy who will win her heart will be so lucky. Friendship isn’t about how long you’ve been together. It’s about how u connect, socialize and got each other’s back. I’m blessed to have her in my life. She isn’t just my bestfriend. She’s also my sister, partner in crimes, soulmate, twin and other half.
When I saw this “contest” in your blog, I got interested to share my story on friendship. Of course, the flats count but that was secondary because my sister, Renet, (considered her my best friend too) matters most. I want the world to know why she is the best. She is married but has no child. She considers my two kids her own. She loves them so much and supports them especially when I lost my job. During the ups and downs of life, she is there for me. The most difficult time occurred when my daughter,Ria, was diagnosed of brain tumor cancer. Renet was the shoulder to lean on. She prayed for Ria by going to a church known for miracles, got a healing priest for her and unselfishly gave her savings for Ria’s treatment. I felt her unconditional love.
This Christmas, how I wish I could give her something but I cannot afford to buy a gift. I will offer a mass for her intentions and petitions which I am sure she will appreciate. OF course, sharing a pair of the flats with her will surely add glow to celebrating this season of joy, peace and love. I hope I can make her happy just the way how she makes me happy.
Congratulations Nicole on your blog and continue inspiring us especially persons like me who are going through difficult times. Many thanks.