I got this in the mail from my friend Marsha. (Thanks, Bru!) Some lessons for you and me here, spot-on admonitions from an anonymous author. :)

I thought of translating the entire text into English (for wider viewership) but I realized the Taglish version is beautiful because the nuances of the vernacular language tugs at the heart, and I didn't want to lose that. However, I also wanted to share the lessons to even those who cannot understand Filipino and so I went on with translating it.

So, here for your enjoyment are two versions-- the original, Pinoy version that was in my mail, and below it, (in colored text) the English version I made.

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Which Shoe Fits?

1. The Overused Shoes

When I went to Davao for Christmas vacation in 2001, I found what I think was the best shoes I've ever had. It was a blue and white slip-ons with a flower on its strap. Margay ang tatak niya. Ang tagal ko na naghanap ng blue na kikay slip-ons at doon ko lang sa Gaisano Davao nahanap iyun. And I bought the shoes for 500 lang! Feeling ko pa, suwerte ako dahil last pair na iyun. And it was my size!Sobrang natuwa ako sa kikay kong sapatos. At napakalambot niya! I wore the shoes everyday because they would match anything... denim, slacks, capri pants, skirt, dress. Gamit ko siya in the office, at the mall, in church, even at the beach!

Dahil araw-araw ko siyang nagamit, at nasuot ko na siya sa kung saan,it was expected na wala pang isang taon ay sira na siya. Sabi ko, okay lang. May Margay naman sa Robinsons saka sa Landmark, siguro naman may ganoong style pa sila. Ngunit napuntahan ko na lahat ng display ng Margay pero wala akong nakitang katulad nang nabili ko sa Davao.Nakadalawang uwi na ako sa Davao at pumupunta ako sa Gaisano, umaasang may makikita akong ganoon klaseng sapatos. Hindi na nga ako naghahangad ng eksaktong ganoon eh. Kahit na kamukha lang o kasing-lambot lang, okay na. Kaso wala.

Iyong kikay blue Margay na slip-ons ko -- na malambot at may naka-angat na bulaklak sa strap, na bagay sa kahit anong damit ko -- ay sira na ngayon. Hindi lang siya sira, nangingitim na sa dumi, at hindi na kayang i-glue ang punit na talampakan. Pero hindi ko pa siya maitapon-tapon. Hindi ko alam kung bakit. Alam ko hindi ko na siya maisusuot uli, pero may reminder naman ako na once upon a time, I had a perfect pair ofshoes. Hindi ko nga lang inalagaan.

Lesson learned: Kapag nahanap mo na ang bagay o tao na sa tingin mo ay perfect na para sa iyo, ingatan at alagaan mo. Huwag mong abusuhin. Kapag nawala sila,baka wala ka nang mahahanap na kapalit. At habambuhay mo na lang iisipin na "sana, inalaagaan ko siya."

2. The "Maganda Siya Pero Masakit" shoes

May fini-fit ako noon na sapatos sa Celine. Okay lang ang presyo. Maganda ang material. Kikay ang hitsura. At kapag suot ko, nakaka-sexy ng paa. May isang problema nga lang... masakit sa paa. Pero cutie kasi siya eh. Saka on sale. At sadyang matigas ang ulo ko. Kaya ayun, binili ko.

Sa umpisa, okay lang naman. Keri ko. Saka masakit naman talaga sa paa ang bagong sapatos. Pero habang lumilipas ang oras, lalong sumasakit. Hindi siya meant sa pangmatagalang suot. Habang suot ko siya, parang gusto kong umiyak sa tuwing humahakbang ako. Pagdating ko ng bahay, puro sugat at galos ang paa ko. At ilang linggo din akong may peklat sa paa dahil sa diyaskeng sapatos na iyun.

Lesson learned: Kapag sa umpisa pa lang, alam mo na masakit na sa paa at hindi mo puwedeng suotin ng matagalan, huwag mo nang bilhin. Bakit mo pa itutuloy kung alam mong masasaktan ka lamang kapag sinuot mo? Parang pakikipag-relasyon din iyan eh. May mga lalake na good on paper, bagay sa iyo, tipo mo nga eh. Ang kaso, panandalian lang siya. "Boylet" lang kasi unavailable siya. Bakit mo pa itutuloy kong alam mong eventually ay masasaktan ka lang? Sana, habang maaga pa, iwasan mo na.

Kung sa umpisa pa lang, alam mo na masasaktan ka lamang sa bandang huli, huwag mo nang ituloy. Baka mag-iwan pa iyan ng scar na hindi mo na maaaalis kailan man.

3. The shoes that got away

May nakita akong magandang sandals sa Landmark. Mura lang, less than 500 lang siguro.

Kakaiba din siya kasi hindi siya iyong style na makikita mo sa babaeng katabi mo sa MRT. Black and white siya. Polkadots ang strap niya pero hindi cheap ang dating. Ang kikay nga eh. tapos, two inches iyong heels niya. Sinukat ko minsan, ang ganda sa paa!Kaya lang, hindi ko siya binili.

Kasi, kakaiba siya eh. Mahirap hanapan ng ka-match na damit at bag. Saka kakabili ko lang kasi ng isang sandals kaya sabi ko, next pay day ko na lang bibilhin ang polka dots na sapatos na yun.

Madalas akong dumaan sa Landmark at nakikita ko ang sapatos na gusto ko bilhin pero hindi ko mabili-bili. Ilang pay day na ang dumaan pero hindi ko pa rin siya kinukuha para iuwi.

Hanggang sa dumating ang oras na kailangan ko ng isang kikay na sandals na may print. Naisip ko agad ang polka-dots na matagal ko na gusto bilihin. Pero pag-punta ko sa Landmark, wala na siya doon. Naubos na. Ang ending, napabili ako ng ibang printed na sapatos na hindi ko naman talaga gusto pero wala akong choice kasi kailangan ko na nga.

Lesson learned: Kung magpapaligaya sa atin ang isang bagay, seize the day! Sa kaka-delay, baka mawala lang sa atin ito at mauuwi tayong nagse-settle sa hindi naman talaga natin gusto. Mas mahirap pagsisihan ang mga bagay na hindi mo ginawa. Wala na yatang mas masakit pa sa thought na abot-kamay mo na lang, pero pinalampas mo pa.

Sino ba naman mag-aakalang may mapupulot pala akong leksyon sa mga sapatos? Kaya nga panay bili ko eh, para mas marami pa akong matutunan. Sa susunod, I will find lessons from bags naman para ma-justify din kung bakit sandamakmak ang bags ko.

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1. The Overused Shoes

When I went to Davao for Christmas vacation in 2001, I found what I think was the best pair of shoes I've ever had: blue and white slip-ons with a perky flower on the straps, by Margay.

I've long been on the lookout for blue, cute slip-ons and was surprised to find one, in Gaisano Davao even! And for only 500 pesos at that! It must be my lucky day, I thought to myself, because it was the last pair, and it was in my size!

I flipped over my cutesy slip-ons. They were unbelievably soft and comfy and they matched every clothing I had. I wore them everyday -- with denim, slacks, capri pants, skirt, dresses. I wore them to work, to the mall, to church -- even to the beach!

And so, expectedly, since I wore my slip-ons everywhere and on every occasion imaginable, I wore them down eventually, in less than a year. I didn't mind, anyhow there are Margay outlets at Robinsons and Landmark, and they'd probably have new pairs of my favorite style on stock.

But I scanned every shelf and rack at Margay but didn't find my favorite slip-ons. I've come home twice to Davao since then and tried my luck at Gaisano, hoping to find another pair of my slip-ons, or at least something similar. Something as cute, or something as comfy. None.

My pair -- once ultra-soft and comfy -- with a perky flower on its strap -- that which goes well with every item in my closet -- is a goner. Shabby and dirty, worn beyond recognition, virtually unsalvageable. But for some reason I haven't had the heart to throw them away. I guess there's no way I can ever wear them again, but when I see them I remember that once upon a time, I had a perfect pair of shoes. It's just that I didn't take care of them.

Lesson learned: When you find the one that's right for you -- the right person or the best thing -- care for it and cherish it, never abuse nor take it for granted. You might never find anything like it ever again and you will forever regret losing the one you neglected.


2. Fabulous-But-Hurts-Like-Hell Shoes
I once tried on a pair at Celine. The price was okay. The material was nice. I loved the style best; my feet looked really sexy in those shoes. There was a glitch however -- they're not as comfy as I would like them to be. But I really liked the style. And it was on sale even. And I've pretty much made up my mind. So I bought them.

They were relatively okay at the start. New shoes are supposed to hurt a little anyway, right? Yet later, they've really started to hurt like hell, and it seemed they weren't meant to be worn for anything longer than a minute. I was on the verge of a breakdown, each step I took in them was sheer torture. My poor feet had blisters and cuts all over by the time I got home. Those darned shoes scarred my feet!

Lesson learned: Don't buy something that's doomed from the start -- that which hurts or doesn't fit or something which won't really serve it's purpose. Why waste on something that will hurt you eventually?

The same is true for relationships -- some men are good "on paper;" you like him, he seems perfect and getting involved with him is the only imaginable next step. But there's a glitch -- he's taken and therefore unavailable, and you really can't have him, not on your terms, not for as long as you want. The relationship is destined for failure, and you're bound for a broken heart. Why get involved in something that will hurt eventually? Stay away, right away.

Because your battlewounds might scar you for life.


3. The Shoes That Got Away
I saw a pair of sandals I liked at Landmark. They were a steal, cost about 500 bucks.

They're uncommon, not the type you'd see on your seatmate's feet on a ride at the MRT. They're in black and white, with polka-dots on the strap, but not in the tacky-kind of way. They were rather dainty. And what's more, the heels were a comfortable two inches. I tried them on once-and wow! They were really cool. My feet looked cute in them.

But I didn't take them home just yet.

I thought that since they were so upbeat and different, I'd probably have a hard time finding clothes and bags to match. I've also bought another pair a few days before. They would have to wait till my next paycheck.

I've passed by Landmark a number of times after that and saw those sandals each time. Several paychecks after I still didn't get them, my mind still undecided and hesitant.

Then came an event that called for dainty, printed sandals and right away I remembered the polka-dot sandals I had wanted for the longest time. I rushed to Landmark, only to find them out of stock. Left with no choice, I ended up buying another pair of printed sandals I didn't really like.

Lesson learned: By waiting and hesitating we might lose the one we want the most and we end up settling for the next best thing, or worse, whatever is available. Why settle, when the one you want is at your grasp? You will experience more regret in the things you did NOT do, than in the things you did do. So if something makes you happy, tarry not, go for it! Seize the day!