It's Never Too Late

The year is coming to a close, but the past two days saw me been pretty busy meeting up with long-missed friends for some pahabol Christmas gift-giving for 2008.

Gift-Giving #1: Reunion with GS Friends

“HA?! NGAYON BA YON?!?!?!”

I was frantically speaking with Vito over the phone that Monday afternoon. I just finished working out at the gym and just got out of the shower when I read a text from Gail, a good friend and classmate in graduate school, reminding us about our mini-reunion and exchange gift which was not until the next day. Or so I thought. Apparently, I got all mixed up with the date that I didn’t realize it was going to be on the 29th – that very same Monday – and not on the 30th, which I originally thought of all along. *Sigh* I was so underdressed for the occasion, having worn only my tee-and-jeans-with-flip-flops combo because I only had working out in my original agenda. Oh well, no time to rant ‘coz it’s not like I can do anything about the inevitable, right? So I was off to Bonifacio High Street where we’ll be meeting up, but had to do a quick stopover at Market! Market! for an emergency shopping of gifts worth Php 100, 50, and 20 which will be used for the exchange gift later on. Around 20 minutes after, I got to Pancake House in High Street, and Gail, Hershey and Tin were already there. Vito, Mac, Vench, and John arrived later on. Gail’s hubby, Vip, was also present. You can only imagine how it was chikka galore from where we were, and it seemed at that time that our table was the nosiest but we hardly cared; there was just sooo much catching up! The exciting part was the mechanics of our exchange gift. We were supposed to bring 3 unwrapped gifts each worth PhP 100, 50, and 20. The three groups of gifts were piled up at the center of the table according to their price. A shuffled deck of cards was used to determine how many gifts can a person collect: if he gets a JACK, he can choose any from the 20-peso gift; a QUEEN allows him a choice of any from the 50-peso and 20-peso gifts; a KING gives you the chance to choose one gift from 100-peso, 50-peso, and 20-peso gifts. That was the case until everyone gets his turn to pick from the deck of cards and there are no more cards left. For round two, it’s a similar mechanic but with a little twist: the deck of cards has been reshuffled, and everyone gets his turn to pick a card until no more cards was left on the deck. Only this time, a JACK gives you the chance to pick any gift that has been previously chosen, regardless of the price; a QUEEN allows you to choose 2 gifts; and a KING gives you the chance to take back 3 gifts. At the end of the day, everyone got to take home something. It was so much fun! We were planning on organizing a road trip for the crew, but we’ll have to wait until Gail gives birth to Baby Boy Garrido sometime late January of the coming year. Maybe we’ll go to Palawan, where Vench’s hometown is. Let’s see… ^_^


Gift-Giving #2: Coffee With Vic

After an hour of working out yesterday, I took a shower and went off to meet up with Vic, a good friend from way back during my Intel days. I caught up with him waiting at Nike Park in Glorietta 4, and we decided to have coffee at Starbucks. He was supposed to give me his Christmas present – the Green Archers 2009-2010 Team Calendar. I sooo love it! The calendar had pictures of the DLSU Green Archers taken during court action plus their respective birthdays as well. We spent a good deal of the next hour just talking about some stuff regarding work, family, and DLSU Green Archers, of course. I even suggested that why not come up with studio shots of the GA players in the upcoming team calendar for 2010, since it would appeal more to the female fans. (I hope they’d seriously consider it. Haha!) It’s just a shame that I wasn’t able to come up with anything to give Vic for Christmas; maybe I’ll just make it up to him next time we meet, like coffee or lunch on me. I was supposed to go somewhere with my parents later on so I had to cut our kwentuhan short since Cavite is still a long way from Makati. Nevertheless, it was so nice seeing him again, as his was one of those comforting familiar faces I can really count on when I’m in need of light conversations over coffee and something to munch on.

That Side Of Town

Remember what I mentioned in my previous entry how my family was planning on a visit to Binondo for some food trip? Well, we finally went there last Sunday, which happened to be the Feast of the Holy Family as well. We were able to catch the 7:00 a.m. mass at Binondo Church and then had our breakfast at Chowking in Divisoria. Good thing my cousin came along with us, so we were able to split up in pairs – my parents and me and my cousin – since we had different agendas for the day. We agreed to meet up in front of Binondo Church by 11:30 a.m. to scout for a good place to have lunch.

Okay, so maybe Divisoria may not be the place where you have ample space to strut your legs for some leisurely window shopping, nor does it offer the luxury of free-flowing ventilation for its patrons BUT I sooo love the place! Why, because of the LOOOOWWWW prices and lots of good deals you can find, of course. (Just make sure you’re keen enough for bag snatchers lurking about, and remember to hone your haggling skills!) For someone who’s so used to the comfort and familiarity of the local malls, doing some window shopping along the streets of Divisoria was a refreshing change albeit exhausting. I got to wander further into the New Divisoria Mall and the famous 168 Mall where I had a grand time haggling buena mano prices for the dvd’s I bought, all adding up to more than a dozen! Pakyawan ito!

When we met up at Binondo Church, we dropped by Eng Bee Tin along Ongpin to buy some authentic Chinese deli – assorted hopia, moon cake, brown tikoy, cashew nuts, gabi and raddish cake, chan pui, etc. – all three shopping baskets in tow when it was our turn to pay the cashier. Oh, and I almost got half-full taking in the variety of samplers they had for customers. As for lunch, we weren’t that much hungry yet so we decided to explore Ongpin Street at little more. Our exploration brought us further to the neighbouring Quiapo, and my parents thought it would be nice for me to have a try of the legendary Mamon Luk. It was actually a mami house that was very popular way back in the early 70’s until late 90’s. When we got to the place, we all ordered their special mami and siopao asado – the two specialties and bestsellers of the house – as my dad regaled us with stories of how the place never changed a bit since he was but a teenage boy. It was so true – R. Mamon Luk’s got that antique ambiance shouting for some long overdue renovation else it could very well suffer demolition at any unsuspecting time. As for the food, well, there was nothing really that extraordinary about their mami but I must admit that the siopao was a winner – really chunky asado meat with salted eggs inside a gigantic white dough. Still, it was a nice experience to have a piece of a so-called legend, at least.

We were homeward bound after lunch, and we slept throughout the ride home, probably because we were dead tired and exhausted from all the walking and the haggling. Still, I’ve always enjoyed going to that part of the metro where there’s a little more something different and new to expect than the usual places I go to in parts of Makati, Taguig, and the South. On my next visit, though, I hope I can bring a camera with me so that I can take lots of pictures and memories from that side of town. ^_^

CHRISTMAS-ing At The Bay

My family would always spend Christmas day by attending the morning mass in our parish, followed by a sumptuous lunch which I fondly call our “Annual Christmas Lunch” – usually held in one of the many cozy and infamous spots of Tagaytay. The day is capped off by lounging around in Starbucks Coffee whilst basking in the cool breeze and ample view of Taal Volcano during late afternoons – something I don’t usually get to savor within the urbanized part of Cavite where my family resides. This has been our family’s tradition for the past five years. This time around, however, we opted to change that tradition JUST a little bit. While we still got together for our Christmas lunch, the whole day was spent at SM Mall of Asia for a no-diet-and-Tagalog-movie day for the family.

After the 9:30 a.m. mass in our parish, we headed to SM MOA to have lunch. Since traffic was a little more tolerable that day, we had a brief pit stop to gas up. Forty-five minutes later, we arrived at the mall and decided to have lunch at Via Mare. We ordered Sinigang na Tiyan ng Bangus sa Miso, Pansit Luglog, Fresh Lumpiang Ubod, and Oyster Rockefeller. I just love the way the oysters were baked – with lots of cheese, spinach sauce, and something very butter-y and garlic-y in between, and wasn’t overcooked nor underdone. For dessert, we ordered the classic puto bumbong with grated cheese and the tri-colour puto bumbong – another thing which Via Mare has been well-known for besides their specialty of baked oyster dishes.

After lunch, we went to buy our movie tickets since we wanted to watch Ai-ai delas Alas in Ang Tanging Ina Ninyong Lahat. Much to our surprise, there was already a VERY LOOONG queue for the ticket booth, and the first three screening times have been sold out as early at 12:45 p.m.!!! The next earliest screening time available was not until 7:00 p.m., but we bought the tickets anyway; at least we had ample slack time before the movie. By 3:30 p.m. we decided to have light snack at UCC Vienna Café. We ordered UCC Clubhouse Sandwich, Sausage Waffle with Frankfurters, and Tendori Seafood Spaghetti (Which had lots of curry in it, giving the pasta a strong sweet-spicy taste that’s a little bit off with my parents’ preference of pasta.). One good thing about UCC, though, is that they have in their menu a wide variety of decaffeinated coffees to choose from, so my parents ordered the UCC Decaffeinated Coffee and Decaffeinated Cappuccino while I had the Iced Yin Yan Cha (Iced Milk Tea). Aside from the good food and fantastic brewed coffee they serve, UCC has that particular cozy ambiance that’s perfect for lounging around and quiet conversations while indulging one's senses to the delightful aroma of coffee beans brewing nearby. Around 4:15 p.m. we decided to check if there were people already lined up to the movies and, much to our surprise, there were already people waiting in line for the 7:00 p.m. screening! We had no choice but to fall in queue and wait (Believe it or not we were already sitting on the floor lest we want to strain our legs during the long wait.). Talk about a box office hit! After two hours of waiting, they started to let people in, and after 10 minutes the main feature began to roll.

‘Funny’ is not exactly the word I’d use to describe the movie – it would have to be ‘HILARIOUS’! The comedic tandem of Ai-ai and Eugene was simply at its funniest all throughout the movie. Here are some unforgettable quotes:

“Aanhin pa ang mala-palasyong bahay kung hindi naman kami doon nakatira?”

“Tell me who your friends are and I’ll tell you who my friends are.”

“Ang batang masipag, paglaki PAGOD.”

“Ang babaeng hindi natutumba ay dating KONDUKTORA.”

“Ang lahat ng nakikita any nakikita ko rin.”

“Practice makes PERFECT; but then again, nobody’s perfect. So why practice?”

“Ang taong nagigipit, sa BUMBAY kumakapit.”

“Lahat ng problema may SOLUSYON. Kung walang solusyon, huwag nang problemahin.”

“Teach a man to fish and he will get a fish. FISH be with you!”

“Ang sakit ng kalingkingan, ang sakit sakit!”

“Hindi lahat ng gwapo may girlfriend; minsan may BOYFRIEND din.”

“Mas mabuti pang bumitiw nang maaga kaysa abutan ng dilim dahil MALAS daw.”


We were home by 11:30 p.m., and before calling it a day we had biko and ripe mangoes for late-night snack (Oh, what did I tell you? No-diet day nga di ba? Haha!), courtesy of my lola who gave away an entire bilao of biko to every household within our compound. The day had been fun albeit exhausting. The only tragedy was that I didn’t have my camera phone with me to take pictures with. (I had to leave my phone for a couple of weeks in Nokia Care for replacement of external casing.) Still, I enjoyed the day though it was a bit different compared to our past Christmases. Oh, and we were planning on a food trip in Binondo before the long Christmas break ends. I hope it pushes through. ^_^

Merry Christmas everyone, and enjoy the rest of the long holiday break!

Cheers!

^_^

Starry Evening

It's two in the morning that time, yet somehow I couldn't seem to shut my eyes to sleep after what became an INDEED star-studded night, as SMART held its corporate Christmas party with the theme "SMART @ 15.beyond" in World Trade Center last December 19, 2008. It was one huge event with literally huge crowd of almost 5,000 SMARTees coming in from the rest of the country to celebrate SMART's 15th anniversary and to usher in some major initiative come 2009. (Ok, at this point I'm done with all the corporatespeak.)

We originally planned to ride the designated bus that was supposed to pick-up Tower-based employees going to the venue. Good thing we were able to hitch a ride with one of the committee members, and by some ten minutes before six we were already making our way inside the main hall. Being the pasaway that I am, I left my badge at home and had to fall in queue, which took quite a while since they still had to verify some details. After what seemed like 15 minutes, I got my tix for the event and went inside - to eat! I eventually catched up with Irene and Cristy, and after finishing our plate we went inside for the program proper.

Did I just say star-studded? Hell yeah! Let me see... well, there was Ai-Ai delas Alas as one of the main hosts, boxing pros like David Diaz, Edwin Valerio, Onyok Velasco, and Harry Tañabor; PBA cagers from the Talk n' Text squad, including former Green Archer Mac Cardona (Who happens to be one of Ryh's major crushes!); performances from Kapamilya stars Billy Crawford, Sam Milby, Angel Locsin, Piolo Pascual, Toni Gonzaga, and Christine Reyes. There were also a handful of Kapuso celebs like Ruffa Mae Quinto, Posh (Who did quite a number of song-and-dance numbers as part of the opening act.), and The Angelos. (They performed SMART's new theme song entitled SMART: Tranforming Lives.) It's just too bad that Papa Lloydie wasn't there!

Cristy, Me, and Ireney

Although we did enjoy the night, it would have been more perfect if more from our team went to the event. As it turned out, there was only me, Cristy, Irene, and Bodjie from QPM who participated in the event. In my case, attending the event was my way of being thankful that, despite the economic recession making its presence felt within the country, SMART came up with such an effort for its employees to come together and celebrate. Other companies, as I've heard from friends and colleagues, were not so generous to do so. That's one good thing to be thankful for, right? Oh, and another really good reason to attend SMART Christmas party is the announcement from PLDT chairman himself - tito Manny Pangilinan - on the current status of the 'B-word' for all SMARTees. What's it gonna be for this year? Well, let's just say there will be room for savings in the coming days. Haha!

I haven't had the time to post pixies yet... coming up REALLY soon in my Multiply site.

Hawaiian Christmas

It was the annual PSG Christmas Party held in Hillsborough, Alabang Village. The theme was supposedly Hollywood awards night or movie-inspired costume, so our group came up with 50 First Dates – inspired theme for out get-up. You can just imagine how were a table of florals and Hawaiian polo (Complete with ukulele, pineapple, and flowers on our ears!) amidst a sea of formal evening gowns and tuxedos. But, we pulled it off pretty well, and we had our own version of a so-called ‘good time’ anyway.

All flowered up! Hahaha! ^_^

The girls

QPM Crew... Guess who's playing Adam Sandler!

So how do I summarize the evening? I guess it was pretty much ok, although I must admit that the venue for the party is not exactly commuter-friendly. Still, we had lots of laughs for the evening. Oh, and someone DID fall in-love that night. Clue: the writer who fell in love with her guitar man. ^_^

Monday's Out-Of-Office

Tanay, Rizal – Now this was one part of Luzon I haven’t been to, not until our group had it’s strat planning-slash-workshop-slash-wellness activity last December 08, 2008 at JE Camp in Tanay Rizal. The crew was complete that day, save for Mina who’s currently on Maternity Leave. (We miss you, Minapye!) Assembly time was supposedly 6:00 in the morning at SMART Tower, in anticipation of the long road trip going to the venue. But, knowing how true blue Filipinos we were, it was not until 6:30 a.m. when the crew was almost complete and, by a little over 6:45 a.m. we were already northbound en route. Hmmm… so far traffic was to our advantage that morning, and in a matter of twenty minutes we stopped by Burger King along Marikina for some quick breakfast dine-in (And of course, for some photo ops as well!). Off to the road we were again, and after another of what seemed like 45 minutes, we reached the gates to JE Camp.

BK Stopover

JE Camp was a sprawling estate that very well reflects the grandeur, wealth, and power that was sooo Joseph “Erap” Estrada. Though the lawns and the estate was well-managed by in-house staffs, still, I can only imagine how it was much more luxurious and striking back in the days when Erap was still in the seat of national power. That is, until the entire fiasco had erupted and the local government had to take over some of his properties, including JE Camp. (Now there’s some JE 101 for y’all! ^_^ )

We were divided into two groups, and I was groupie with Sab, Eric, Cristy, Mela, and Angel. We’re supposed to come up with this collage thingy that was to represent our future plans and actions for the 2009 initiatives and to-do’s. Later that day, each group presented their respective “works”. Good thing both groups were able to finish just on time, allowing some ample time to tour the estate and have some photo ops as well.

By 5:30 p.m. we were aboard our vans and homeward back to Manila. Dinner followed at Conti’s in Serendra for some post-birthday treat from the three team leads who celebrated their respective birthdays last November. Towards the end of our main course, we were sooo FULL that we had to take out the dessert that came with dinner. Thanks to Ms. Teng, Ms. Cathy, and Ms. Lily for the sumptuous dinner! Oh, and we also had the first leg of Kris Kingle that night. Guess what I got??? A Gary V. Karaoke CD! Nice!

There, I finally got myself to write about that event. I was almost on the brink of not blogging about it anymore – the holidays and all the anticipation for the long Christmas break is making me way too lazy than I want to. *sigh* I still have two more make-up posts coming up… 2 Christmas parties in a roll. Coming up next! ^_^

Us Women

I just wanna share two meaningful proses which I’ve picked up from my BDJ 2009 Planner. I thought it was a lovely read, especially for all my ladies out there.

* * * * * * *

Live with intention.
Walk to the edge.
Listen hard.
Practice wellness.
Play with abandon.
Laugh.
Choose with no regret.
Continue to learn.
Appreciate your friends.
Do what you love.
Live as if this is all there is.

- Mary Ann Radmacher

* * * * * * *

Why Every Woman Is Beautiful
(Anonymous)

Her heart loves
a rollercoaster ride
She cries. She laughs.
She falls in love.
Sometimes, cautiously.
Oftentimes, recklessly.
Her mind is on
a constant marathon.
Running. Running away.
Changing pace.
Turning around.
But never stopping.
Her dreams keep on flying.
They may not reach the sky
but will never ever take a dive.
Her hands touch
other people’s lives.
Constantly.
As if that is the reason
for their being.
But most of all,
every woman is beautiful
because she is both steel
and cotton candy
and everything in between.



*sigh*

I can sooo relate.

Cheers to being those complicated but very beautiful creations called women!

^_^

Of Friends And Acquaintances

A week ago, I met up with my old college friends whom I haven’t seen for quite some time. Our meeting place was at Gella’s in Las Piñas sometime around 5:30 p.m.

*Sigh*

I missed the place! I’ve been to Gella’s countless times before on given occasions – birthdays, drama practices, get-togethers – plus her mom’s the kindest hostess there ever was. (And did I mention she cooks one helluva killer menudo? Yummy!) Just like the good old times, I was the early bird as usual, while the rest of the crew arrived sometime past six in the evening. So good to see all of them again – Gella, Rhyzza, Marvin, Jhey, and Yayans.

Getting together with my college friends, I can’t help but compare how friendship was like back in college and now. Back then, we were a solid crew consisting of three guys and gals. Sure, we’re diverse and conflicts once in a while are inevitable. But at the end of the day the bond still stands. Some would reason that the four years we spent together within the walls of the university has got to be the big factor for the strong bond, but I say it’s more than that. It’s been more than four years after we graduated, and still it’s as if nothing’s changed. Though, I must admit, changes are apparent in terms of topics for discussion – from love life and notorious professors to career and a bit of national issues. In other words, we’ve matured in more ways than one BUT the friendship stays as if it was only yesterday when we were those unruly and pasaway BCS 41 in green and white uniform.

The bestest college barkada (L to R: Tantan, Jhey, Geh, Rhyzza, Marvin, Gella, Yayans, Issy, Wino)

*Sigh*

I wish I’d feel the same way about the people I am with right now. But truth be told, it’s hard to find true friends nowadays in a pool of acquaintances, especially at the workplace. If there’s one thing I’ve learned recently, no matter how much I’m willing to accept people for what they are – strengths, weaknesses, and all – they may not be willing to see past my outer demeanor and try to know the real me. It’s sad, but it’s one of the realities I must live by as an adult. Still, I’d like to believe that I’ve made true friends along the way, and that somehow the bond is for keeps. That is, setting aside my being a self-confessed bratinella with a frank attitude and a sharp tongue that could easily break a spirit if I choose to. This is me, after all; I’m not going to change who I am but I am trying to be better.

So what are we?

Are we friends or merely acquaintances?

Cheers! ^_^

The Ultimate Movie Day

I feel like it's been ages since I last spent my weekend in some major slack time. It's been, like, what? Two… three weeks since?

As for movies, well...

The last movie I saw was Twilight, and the movie buff in me was dying for the luxury of the big screen. So when we got to SM Mall of Asia last Saturday, screening times at the box office were the very first things I checked out. Oh goodie, Bolt was already showing! There's just one problem, though (Actually, make that two!): my dad wanted to watch the Keanu Reeves flick (The Day The Earth Stood Still) while mum wanted to see Four Christmases starring Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn. So how did we solve the dilemma? It was pretty easy, actually - we watched all three flicks! Talk about one ultimate movie day!


First movie: The Day The Earth Stood Still

I must admit that while I used to gush all over Keanu Reeves during The Matrix fame, somehow I couldn’t quite find the same charm he used to have when I watched the movie (Or at least that’s as far as the movie was concerned.) Sure, he's still good-looking and all BUT I couldn't quite bring myself to comprehend Reeves in a film that showcases extra-terrestrial subject in its main plot. Overall, I thought the movie was downright boring. I learned it was a remake of a classic film with the same title, but in my opinion the flick's not much of a buzz-worthy. Uhhm… next movie please.

After the first movie we decided to have lunch first at Mangan. As usual, it's been a good dining experience, not missing out on Bibingka with Quesong Puti and Puto Bumbong (Which I tried for the first time, by the way.) for dessert. By the end of lunch, FULL was an understatement for me and my family.



Second Movie: Four Christmases

If I hadn't known my mum better, the only reason she wanted to see the movie was pure curiosity as to why it topped the US box office, beating Twilight in terms of gross earnings during its opening week. Anyway, it's her turn to pay for the movies sans popcorn since we're still so full after the hearty lunch.

Two words: FUNNY and SWEET. Now, I never really was a Vince Vaughn fan, but somehow I liked how he laid out his role in the movie. As for Witherspoon, I've always thought of her as one of those underrated good actresses, but the onscreen tandem with Vaughn was just the right kind for the flick. There were many funny moments and still it was all too sweet! But, truth be told, I wouldn’t wanna be stuck in the middle of the movie’s plot in real life. As if the holidays ain’t stressful enough! Shheesshhh!!!


Third movie: Bolt

We still had two hours before our third and last movie. This gave me ample time to do some window shopping and some slack time as well. I ended up buying a simple top and a new pair of flats, and then I met up with my folks a few minutes before our designated screening time.

The good thing about Bolt was that the humor was never trying hard nor exaggerated. Bolt was simply adorable! Even my parents were laughing at the funny scenes in the movie. Count on Walt Disney to come up with a feel-good animated movie, the likes of Finding Nemo and Wall-E. Good thing this movie came in last on our itinerary; the humor helped to perk up the mood all the way home.


*Yawn*

I’m sleepy so I guess this is the part where I’ll be closing my entry. I still owe my readers two more make-up post; hopefully I can cook up something by tomorrow or at least before midweek sets in. But with all the festivities that are going to take place this week (Think: Christmas parties!), I can only wish myself good luck.

Whew!

Finally!

For a couple of days now, I’ve been pretty much hushed in terms of updating this blog because I’ve been VERY (And I mean VERY, VERY!) busy during the previous week. (That’s what I get from juggling deadlines at work; final course requirements before school term come to a close, and some spare time to do some workout at the gym – hectic!!!)

There will probably be three make-up posts which I’ll be putting up really soon – one is the long-overdue reunion with my college friends, and the other would be the planning session we had just recently with the whole SAQM – QPM crew. As for the third, well it’s actually more of a 3-in-1 movie review after spending what I call an extreme movie day with my folks over the weekend. The best breather – as mom calls it – after a so-called hell week. As for pictures, I’ll try my best to organize my albums over the weekend and upload them in my Multiply site. I think there will be 3 or 4 albums coming up.

Sigh.

It’s been one helluva week for me especially since I’ve been spending many nights gruelling and neglecting sleep. In fact, lack of sleep has taken its toll on my system – zits have been pretty much making their presence felt in my T-zone lately. Oh well, thank God for quick fixes like concealers and zit zappers!

Before anything else, this isn’t really much of a post – just a breather after the week that was. Much more stuff coming up pretty soon!

^_^

Solace

I miss you

But to even think of you is a grave mistake;

The sunset is closing in on us

And we have no choice but to part towards an indefinite night,

Never knowing when the sun will shine on us again;

They say I would just have to take solace in the nightingale's song

But how could I?

When I got used to watching the skylarks with you?

Life has its way of teaching us lessons,

And mine came in the hardest and the saddest

But my heart just never learns;

For even if I close our chapter with a promise of farewell,

My heart keeps looking back for traces of you;

I still keep fragments of our memories in my mind,

And like a lost child, I throw pieces of them along the way

So that maybe, just maybe

If my heart yearns for you too much

I can somehow find my way back to you -

To us.

Of Unconventional Kind

Remember how I’ve always been a self-confessed professional crammer? Well, it not only applies to my studies you know, but in terms of Christmas shopping as well. You see, I haven’t done a single Christmas shopping to check off any item on my Christmas list. BUT I manage to have my Christmas gift for my parents delivered just yesterday at home. Mind you, it’s not the typical all-wrapped-up-in-a-box kind of present; it’s more of the all-boxed-up-and-install kind.

Just a little segue: you know how the Pacquiao – De La Hoya match is coming up this Sunday, right? Well, dad’s been utterly excited about it because for the first time, he’s gonna watch it live via satellite after I bought a satellite cable for them and had it installed in their bedroom tv. (Which means it’s gonna be for their exclusive use!) Hehehe… talk about HBO-CNN marathon!

Well, at least that’s one item off of my Christmas list. I was watching the local news last night, and man, the malls were jam-packed with shoppers!!! Uggghhh! I wonder if it’s gonna be the same scenario when I do my last-minute Christmas shopping spree. Hopefully the crowd would have tapered off by then. If not, well… lots of luck to me then.

101 Truths

This entry marks my 101st to this blog… one-hundred-and-one memories; a hundred-and-one truths.

When I first started this site, I was merely considering joining the bandwagon that has enthralled most of my female clique – blogging. In fact, I wasn’t that confident about myself keeping up and was resigned that one of these days I’d eventually get tired of it and run out of things to write and share about. I said to myself. “Yeah, sure… but eventually this blogsite’s gonna close down.”

I was obviously wrong.

From food, dating escapades, rants and raves, love and lust, and just about anything and everything from the rollercoaster life that is so mine, it seems as if life is INDEED more than meets the eye; that there are more than a hundred-and-one visage to share. And as time progressed, blogging has become a therapy – not just for my mere physical – but for my emotional state as well. Of course, there’s still my handwritten day-to-day journal where I keep the most private and personal details of my life, but I guess sharing at least glimpses of whatever’s up with me and my so-called world is my own way of paying ode to a beautiful gift called Life.

Cheers to one-hundred-and-one truths!

Cheers to life!

^_^

The Whirlwind That's December

It's the last day of sweet November, and already I'm beginning to feel that pleasant jolt of anticipation for what will always be the merriest month of 'em all - December.

Some things am gonna be writing about soon:
1. A long-overdue reunion with my college 'kada
2. SAQM-QPM Workshop and Planning Session
3. An upcoming double-birthday celebration
4. SAQM-QPM Mini Christmas Party and Kris Kringle galore
5. SMART PSG Christmas Party 2008 (Theme: Hollywood Awards Night)
6. SMART Christmas Party 2008
7. Last-minute Christmas shopping and splurges
8. Christmas lunch, and
9. Everything and anything else in between - planned or otherwise.

Wow, it's really gonna be a busy month but am looking forward to it. Besides, making the most of the last month of the year is a good closure before the New Year sets in. Oh, and speaking of the new year, I can't wait to start using my Belle de Jour 2009 Power Planner (Which I just got last Wednesday via courier, by the way.) It's my first time to actually buy a BDJ Planner, and it's true what they say that it is LOADED with freebies, discount coupons, and everything else that's of great help to today's modern chic (Like me? Haha!) I am sooo loving it! ^_^

Oohh, it's a long weekend by the way. My Christmas gift for my parents will be coming in in a few hours. It's gonna be one unconventional gift but I’m pretty sure they'll love it. Maybe I'll blog about it next time.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend y'all! ^_^

The Heart Of The Matter

Tonight felt as if it was the longest night of my life...

Though the details are very personal, still admitting how much I've hurt my parents tonight seemed like a first step towards my humbling and the road back to forgiveness - from myself and, most especially, from my parents.

For a while, seating there all guilty and shameful with my eyes drilling holes on the floor, I was prepared to accept their punishment - physical or otherwise. In fact, in the midst of that heavy and dreadful silence, my mind was already madly wondering where I'd run to, should I face disownment from my dad. I tried to keep my resolve, and for a while I was successful. That is, until I looked up to them and then my fragile resolve crumbled. I neither saw condemnation nor hate in their tearful eyes; there was only explicit sadness brought by the realization that I wasn't exactly the person they'd hoped for me to be. There were no words of hate nor physical assault. There were just my parents' eyes full of pained sadness, especially my dad's. But at the end of it all, they were still willing to give me a shot. One last chance. As for forgiveness and healing, I know it'll take some time but I love my parents and am willing to do anything just to help my family move on and recover from this entire ordeal. I know it's way stupid of me, but tonight I've never been more thankful to God for the loving parents He has blessed my life with.

Santa Baby...

Think of all the fun I’ve missed,
Think of all the fellows I haven’t kissed
Next year I could be just as good
If you check off my Christmas list

(Marilyn Monroe)

This is that particular time of the year when people start coming up with their very own Christmas wish list. I’ve read more than a dozen blogs about the stuff that they would want to receive for the holidays, ranging from cool electronic gadgets and expensive hobby and sporting goods to the latest fashion trends and vacation sprees down to something as basic as world peace.

This time, I’m gonna do something that’s a little different than the usual Christmas lists of most people; I’m writing down my Christmas wish list – not for me nor my family (Since mine is gonna be something that’s a little too personal to share) – but for my dear friends and colleagues with whom I’ve had the privilege to share the colorful year that was.

Cassey - A Mango shopping spree. Not that she needed any more clothes in her closet, though; but with her current dating status, an entire new wardrobe may just come in extra handy.

Mike - 3 mobile phones with all 3 network providers. With the way this dude's been MIA-ing on me and Cassey, he needs some serious strategy on keeping in-touch. Hahaha! Miss you Mike! ^_^

Christian - Now what could I possibly wish for a dude who's got practically everything??? Well, he's about to venture into business and attend graduate school at the same time so I guess my wish for him would be to come out with flying colors in both fields.

Sam - Oh seriously! This dude's gotta have some serious hobby on top of work, blogging, and you-know-who; something he's as passionate and enthusiastic about besides the three things I’ve mentioned.

Gail - I miss hanging out with this bratinella and kikay classmate of mine in graduate school. I wish for her a healthy and bouncing first-born that's a little less pasaway as its pretty young momma.

Ryh - A panther black car with a sleek black tint and hefty tons of fuel to hit the road and go places baby!

Jen - A house and lot with ample garden space for her nephews and nieces to play and rumble about. Oh, and a decade's supply of fish tofu! ^_^

Sab - a shiny shiny diamond ring for Pocaw!

Jackie - A culinary arts diploma and to be the author of her very own cookbook. Oh, and I’m a VERY willing taste tester!

Irene - A wedding in Vegas! But who's going to play groom? Hmm... Last time I check it's gonna be Allan, but now I’m not so sure. Tsk! Tsk!

Cristy - Am I really allowed to post it here?!?

Tintoots - For the shutterbug in you, a Nikon D700 complete wit lens kit is the sweetest gift this Christmas.

Romina - Minapye, go give yourself some piece of mind. THAT FREAKIN' LOUIS VUITTON BAG IS JUST DEFINITELY FOR YOU!

Mela - Her knight-in-shining-whatever, period.

Teng - Uhh... My boss seemed to have everything quite literally. But now that I think about it, it would be nice for Baby Johann to have a playmate, say, a new baby girl?

Cathy - A weight gain program that ACTUALLY works!

Lily - I know how she loves to strut and groove to RnB, so I thought it would be nice to have teacher Jorcel as her very own personal dance instructor.

Yang - I want nothing more for this hott young momma but to see her name in broadsheet one morning and finally get to address her as Attorney Diana Yague.

Rhyza - Hey, I’m still waiting for that scented white envelope with the artsy cardboard that has my name written on it as one of your secondary sponsors. Miss you lab!

Bodjie - A month-long vacay to Japan. That should tame his, err, inner ninja. (Ano daw?!)

Richmond - A dinner date with Nicole Linkletter. Awww!

Eric – This dude is in bad need of a videoke set!

Vic – An understanding and thoughtful girlfriend who will love the DLSU Green Archers (Go La Salle!) and Boston Celtics as much as this dude does. (Uhmm... Any Sporty Spice in the house?!?)

Kim - A girlfriend who's gotta love dogs, by the way, ‘coz this dude's planning on giving his future gf one to take care of. (Calling all single ladies out there!)

Well, there you have it – one unconventional Christmas wish list. It’s all for fun, but it would be extra sweet if everything I’ve hoped for for my friends would come true. As for my own wish list, well… I do have a few things in mind that I’d love to receive this Christmas. After all, I’ve been nice (And just a bit of naughty) this year so I do hope Santa will bring me my wish on Christmas Day.

Happy Holidays y'all! ^_^

In The 'Twilight' Zone

I was originally supposedly on Sick Leave due to an almost intolerable attack of cramps and low sugar brought about by my monthly period this morning, so mom said that it would be wise to just stay at home and give my system some rest. Some time after lunch I learned that my parents will be going to SM Mall of Asia to go on a 'date' (Yes, after 26 years of marriage my parents are still at it!) so they asked what I wanted for pasalubong. I innocently asked whatever they'll be watching a flick on the big screen (I was 101% sure a date to the movies it's gonna be.) and they said they’ll see if anything good’s showing at the box office.

Me: Twilight!!!
Mom: Maganda ba talaga?
Me: Well, top grosser siya on its opening week, $170M ‘ata, second yung James Bond.
Mom: Ah so gusto mo sumama? Oh eh pano dysmenorrhea mo? Baka pag sumumpong yan ma-low sugar ka na naman?
Me: Ehhh.. That's what mefenamic acid is for naman eh.
Dad: Isama na natin. At tsaka uupo lang naman siya sa sinehan. Parang di mo kilala anak mo - Shoe Mart lang pang-alis ng sakit nyan...

End of discussion.

And so I get to score another free movie, playing third wheel on my parents' supposed movie date! Woohoo!

So what's the verdict on what could be the last and one of the most anticipated movie of 2008? Well, let me put it this way - at least there were moments in the movie that made me laugh (Mostly Edward Cullen's scenes, of course.), unlike the book that nearly bored me to death. As for the characters, Edward's was given justice plus Robert Pattinson’s acting holds a lot of promise for a newbie (Well, not exactly a newbie since we've all seen him do his stint as the tragic Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.). As for Kristen Stewart who plays the role of Bella Swan, hers was just okay I guess. On a more technical aspect, it was my mom who commented on the lack of artistic cinematography of the movie, that which is most prominent in the ranks of Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. But on a more positive note, I'd prefer watching the motion picture adaptation of Stephanie Meyer’s bestseller over the paperback ANYTIME. Overall, I guess the movie did, well… just okay. (No questions asked in terms of profit because last time I checked, the flick’s doing REALLY good in tinseltown.)

If I were you, don't take my word for it and experience the movie for yourself. After all, in the end it all boils down to expectations, personal taste and a bit of fanaticism when it comes to enjoying movies like this - movie buff or otherwise.

Go get 'em a bucketful of popcorn and enjoy!

^_^

Indulgences On A Saturday

(This is actually a catch-up post.)

I was sorely craving for Kapampangan food AGAIN last weekend, so I decided to treat my folks at Cabalen in SM Mall of Asia. Food galore it was, considering the buffet setup (Which left very little room for my usual food photo ops, by the way.) that got the rest of my family going through a variety of authentic Pampanga foods - the likes of Beringhe (Pampanga’s version of Paella) and Ginataang Kuhol (Snails cooked in coconut milk.) – plus a bit of Asian food that’s been a recent addition to the menu (They now serve Jap and Thai dishes like Crabstick/Shrimp Tempura, California Maki, and Pad Thai, among others.) I was already half-full by the end of my first plate. Come my second turn, I had Crispy Kangkong, a mix of green mangoes and tomatoes, Boiled Okra and Native Vinegar with Labuyo, plus lots of Crabstick Tempura with matching tempura sauce. (Hehe, I know I shouldn’t be dwelling too much on the seafood but allow me just a bit of indulgence even for just a day.) But the best part of the meal was dessert – Minatamisang Saging, Leche Flan, Pineapple Gelatin, Pichi-Pichi, and – now this is the best part – concocting my own version of Halo-halo! Sarap!!! My mom, who hails from Concepcion, Tarlac, was explaining to my dad that this is how it would be like to visit a fiesta in Pampanga. Like I said earlier, it was food galore!

After lunch, a back-to-back movie was in tow – Madagascar II: Escape to Africa and Quantum of Solace. Don’t even ask me about Madagascar II because all I can say is that it was a fun movie (Which was just as I expected.) Yet somehow I realized that I kinda outgrew those kinds of flick. Movies like that is good therapy for stress once in a while, though. As for Quantum of Solace, well, I admit that I kinda underestimated the movie since I’m still getting over the fact that Pierce Brosnan won’t be playing the sexy J. Bond on the big screen. Still, Daniel Craig wasn’t so bad; in fact, he’s also kinda sexy – in a very serious way, that is. As for the rest of the movie, it was a TWO-THUMBS-UP!!! Oh and did I mention that I’m just drooling for that Black Alfa Romeo 159 during the opening of the flick? Gosh!

Black Alfa Romeo 159

Well, so goes movies with my parents on a Saturday. Next week, I'm looking forward to finally see how the movie adaptation of Twilight goes. I'll probably have a double take on this one - one with my parents (Who wanted to see it as well.) and one with my girls from the office. Am I gonna catch it on its opening day? That's a secret I'll never tell. Hahaha! Ala-Gossip Girl noh? Hehehe... Goodie! ^_^

On Being Cheesy...

They say that if you want something so badly and wishes hard enough for it to come true, the universe and all its forces will conspire to make it happen. If that's the case, then I'm gonna have to believe in love - that even someone like me deserves a bit of that feeling like heaven on this earth. I'm keeping my faith, even if it's a blind one, that there must be someone out there meant for me (As cheesy as that sounds!). I don't know how nor when, but I do hope I play my cards right for it to happen. ^_^

The Chris Brown - Rihanna Experience

Admittedly, "many" is an understatement when you come to terms with the fact that almost 70,000 people flocked to Bonifacio Open Field for the Chris Brown/Rihanna Live in Manila concert held last night.

I've been to The Fort countless times already, but i didn't expect that much people streaming along High Street and Serendra when I got there around 5 p.m. to meet up with Kim. We decided to scout around for some nice spot to have early dinner before the concert. All the food spots seemed to be swarming with people, and eventually we decided on Clawdaddy's along High Street. It was a good choice, since we both haven't tried the place and I’ve been meaning to try it out based on positive reviews. As expected, took us what seemed to be 20-30 minutes of waiting time before we were seated, but the good news was that our order came in pretty fast. We ordered Clammy Spaghetti and Bountiful Beef Ribs (The ribs came with our choice side dishes of coleslaw, fries, and mashed sweet potato.), both with ample serving size for 2-3 persons. We were originally planning on ordering Lamb Shank but unfortunately they ran out of stock for the day. As for the food, it was pretty ok but nothing too extraordinary in my opinion. They did a pretty good job on the ribs, but the pasta we ordered could use a little more taste. Friendly crew, by the way, plus it's got a warm ambiance and reasonable price. Maybe next time I’ll try their lobster or octopus salad.

When we got off Clawdaddy's, it was a little over 7 p.m., and we had to follow the looong queue towards the Silver entrance. It took us more than an hour to get through the line, and by 8:37, when we were just within arm's reach to the entrance gate, we heard Chris Brown officially starting up his act with Wall to Wall. Darn! People started to push their way in, and eventually we got in on one piece, thank heavens! Of course, with our Silver tix you really can't expect us to get a bird's eye view of the happenings on the main stage so we just had to make do with the widescreen provided. Nevertheless it didn't stop me from screaming, jumping, gushing over, and singing along with Chris Brown. My faves: Kiss Kiss, No Air and With You (Although it would've been perfect if he performed Glow in the Dark, Superhuman, and You as well.) He wrapped up his act around 9:30, followed by a 10-minute fireworks display and another 30-minute break. And then, enter Rihanna with Disturbia (Damn that killer body and awesome legs!), Pon de Replay, S.O.S, Shut Up and Drive, Please Don't Stop The Music, Hate That I Love You, Good Girl Gone Bad, Unfaithful, and Take A Bow. But the bestest part of the evening was when she did a duet of Umbrella (Ellah, ellah... Eh, eh...) with, none other than, boyfie Chris Brown! At this point the crowd went wild, and if I had known better, I would say Rihanna was kilig while performing with Chris Brown. Move over, Branjelina! Hahaha!

Ok, so we made it through the concert. The next hurdle would be to get out of an obviously VERY non-moving traffic going home. We were able to get out of Bonifacio Global City by past 1 a.m., and I was able to reach home around 2 a.m. My legs and feet were dead tired from standing for more than 4 hours, my system was shouting for sleep, but it was worth it - Silver tix and all! ^_^

The FX Tales (Part 2)

As promised, here is the continuation of the FX Tales which I've posted in my previous entry.


FX Commuter Type 5: The Muncher

You just got on the FX, you’ve handed your fare to the driver, and now you’re set to relax and just enjoy the ride – could be sleeping or listening to some random mp3 – then a weird smell creeps it’s way into the congested interior of the FX. Fish? Vinegar? Ahhh… Jollibee Regular Yum. Looks like the Muncher is at it again!

Basically, the Muncher is that FX passenger who just can’t stop eating from the moment he lines up for the next ride until that few moments before he gets off. From hamburger-and-french-fries to junk foods-and-soda, the Muncher gets away with it and ends his commanding performance with a “Burp!”, silent or otherwise.


FX Commuter Type 6: The Prima Donna

Another type of an annoying FX commuter are those that I so-call the Prima Donnas – those women who can’t seem to get it in their thick skull that they’re riding a PUV instead of their respective private cars. Geez! They just can’t seem to stop complaining – from the lousy air conditioning to the smell of the FX interiors. I get it, everybody just wanna get the most of their fare’s worth; but when you look around you and you realize that everybody else is being tolerant given the circumstance, some less ranting would be nice.


FX Commuter Type 7: The Chatterbox

They usually come in pairs or more – two people or a group of friends, young or otherwise, who have the tenacious energy of indulging themselves to non-stop chatter from the moment they line up for the next ride until they reach their destination. They talk about anything and everything under the sun – cheating neighbors, thankless jobs, lovelife, celebrity gossips, and anything else that comes up. In other words, they are the more-energy-mas-happy type of people.

Well, there you have it. I originally composed this blog on my mobile phone on a humid Wednesday night, right after I got off my Risk Management class in Taft. I wasn't able to finish it because I dozed off, and everytime I try to come up with a decent ending I either doze off while listening to some mp3 or I prefer surfing the mobile internet - the two top things I do when I'm on my way to work or homeward bound. Besides that, I guess observing fellow passengers and finding humor (LOTS of it!) when I least expect inside the confines of the so-called FX would be third.

^_^

The FX Tales (Part 1)

While waiting in queue for the next FX going to Cavite after class on a Wednesday night, I could think of a hundred topics to blog about. Yet there's one that seemed befitting given the situation I'm in, and thus begin the FX Tales...

Being a commuter for as long as I can remember (Except on those REALLY RARE days when I’d drive the family car or when my dad takes over the wheels.), I’ve had quite a fair share of pleasant, not-so-pleasant, and albeit comical experiences when it comes to riding FX services when going to places outside Cavite. Blame it on my fellow commuters who add color and humor to the entire riding experience. And so I'm sharing with you how I've classified the diverse commuters I've come across with, given the fair length of time I've been travelling from the South going to Manila and back. Read on and see if you can relate based on your own personal experience, recent or otherwise. I know I did.

FX Commuter Type 1: The Good Samaritan

It's those fellow passengers that take it upon themselves to reach out (literally) and act as conductors who pass the fare/change from one fellow passenger to the driver and vice versa. On some cases, they could be those people who voluntarily collect fares from others and get to perform the complicated job of figuring whoever gets how much as change for their respective fares. Bibo, noh? But you've got to admit that these people make life for fellow passengers a little easier.


FX Commuter Type 2: The Cellphone Boombox

This type of FX passengers are those kinda annoying ones who answer their mobile phones and talk in such manner as if the person they're talking to on the other end of the line is either deaf or has got some serious earwax issue. Really! It's as if they have an inborn boombox rather than a voice box within their anatomy.


FX Commuter Type 3: The Sleepbangers (Now this one I can relate to the most!)

You usually encounter the sleepbangers when you ride the FX during the so-called rush hours in the mornings and late afternoons. They're the ones who either bang their heads sideward to the window or pa-simple to that other person's shoulder. What's amazing about these people is how they manage to maintain their sleep despite some loud banging on the FX window. For some, they can't help but keep their mouths open or, on a more unsightly note, drool on themselves or the not-so-lucky ones beside them. Of course, there are still a rare few who snore quite loudly as if they're in the comfort of their own bedroom.


FX Commuter Type 4: The Wa-Paki’s

The wa-paki’s are those people who never seem to give a damn about anyone and anything else besides themselves, even when they’re aboard a PUV. They don’t do anything – they’re just there. Never mind that your butt is barely touching the seat or if you strain your arms in fervent hope that someone would be kind enough to pass your fare to the driver when you’re seated the very end of the PUV, the wa-paki’s will simply do NOTHING. In short, wala talaga silang pakialam.

Whoa! Never thought it would be this long. I still have some three more types in mind but I guess I’ll have to make a part 2 of this post lest I want to bore my readers to death. It will be up in a while so do watch out for it. For the meantime, I’m gonna grab some chilled milk from our fridge and some banana as well; simultaneous blogging and web surfing is making me hungry.

^_^

Weekend Rant

Waaahhhh!!!

I just decided to make that big leap and do the biggest purchase of my life, so far. For now I’m keeping mum about it, but let me just take a moment to mourn the loss of some of the smallest luxuries I enjoy in this world just to give way to that new “stuff” – frequent dining out, concerts, out-of-town trips (Except the one that’s gonna be on February next year since it’s booked and confirmed already), bags – to name a few. It’ll start next year, just when I vowed to myself that I’ll be coming up with a more decent savings account come 2009. Well, good thing I’m on my last academic term for graduate school this year, meaning that I can rest for another term or two before I undertake all the nitty-gritty of thesis writing. I’ve come a long way but the hardest ordeal is yet to come – graduate thesis defense. Good Lord, help me out!

So there… just another rant bursting out on a Friday afternoon. But honestly, I’m really (as in REALLY) excited for my new “stuff”. Looking at the long-term perspective of it, all the belt-tightening and sacrifices I’m going to make will all be oh SO worth it.

Oh and by the way, happy weekend everybody!

^_^

More Than Just An L.S.S.

For some reason, there’s this song that’s been playing in my head for the past week. I’d play it over and over (And over and over…) on my laptop and even on my mobile phone at random times of the day. I guess this song reminds me of a LOT of things – people, places, events that have come and gone recently; the meaning’s not that relevant in my life, though. Am not sure how long I’m gonna keep up like this, but just for a couple of days more, I’ll indulge myself to this song.

The Man Who Can’t Be Moved (The Script)

Going back to the corner where I first saw you,

Gonna camp in my sleeping bag I'm not gonna move,

Got some words on cardboard got your picture in my hand,

Saying if you see this girl can you tell her where I am,

Some try to hand me money they don't understand,

I'm not broke I'm just a broken hearted man,

I know it makes no sense, but what else can I do,

How can I move on when I'm still in love with you...

Coz if one day you wake up and find that you're missing me,

And your heart starts to wonder where on this earth I can be,

Thinking maybe you'll come back here to the place that we'd meet,

And you'd see me waiting for you on the corner of the street.

So I'm not moving...

I'm not moving.

Policeman says son you can't stay here,

I said there's someone I'm waiting for if it's a day, a month, a year,

Gotta stand my ground even if it rains or snows,

If she changes her mind this is the first place she will go.

Coz if one day you wake up and find that you're missing me,

And your heart starts to wonder where on this earth I can be,

Thinking maybe you'll come back here to the place that we'd meet,

And you'd see me waiting for you on the corner of the street.

So I'm not moving...

I'm not moving.

I'm not moving...

I'm not moving.

People talk about the guy

Who's waiting on a girl...

Oohoohwoo

There are no holes in his shoes

But a big hole in his world...

Hmmmm

And maybe I'll get famous as man who can't be moved,

And maybe you won't mean to but you'll see me on the news,

And you'll come running to the corner...

Coz you'll know it's just for you

I'm the man who can't be moved

I'm the man who can't be moved...

Coz if one day you wake up and find that you're missing me,

And your heart starts to wonder where on this earth I can be,

Thinking maybe you'll come back here to the place that we'd meet,

And you'd see me waiting for you on the corner of the street.

So I'm not moving...

I'm not moving.

An Early Rave

I know it's way too early to rave, but I just can't help it...

We're going to Coron, Palawan this coming February 2009! Woohoo! We just finished booking our 2-way flight - me and Ryh - and we're tagging along with Jen and the rest of her crew.

It was such a rushed booking - Jen casually told me that she and a couple of friends are flying over Coron sometime mid-February next year, the next day we told Ryh about it, and that same afternoon we confirmed our booking via Cebu Pacific. Talk about express! (We owe you big time, Jen!)

Can't wait for that one. But first, I'm thinking of some roadtrip with a couple of friends or some Anawangin escapade - kinda like our huling hirit for the year.

^_^

I Need...

Someone to keep it real;
Who wouldn’t mind my lousy mood swings
And my tendency to bring up petty quarrels;
Someone who can meet me halfway
When I feel as if the road to his end seems longer than I’d expected;
He will understand my need for space
During times when I have to overcome internal battles on my own;
And though we’re apart, there is peace in my heart
Because I know that I am loved for who and what I am;
Never mind that he’s not the flowers-and-chocolates kind of guy
Just as long as he gives me his heart, for it’s all I’ll ever ask for;
He’ll forgive me for the little mischief that I’ve always been
And then I will want to be a better person;
I don’t need to be spoiled to my heart’s content
But he has to know me well enough to make me smile
Even with the simplest joys that life could offer;
Someone who can put up with my childish nature
And wouldn’t mind watching me cry over sappy movies and love songs;
I need someone who will let me into his world, his life
As I am willing to open up mine for him;
Someone who’s not afraid to let me see his vulnerable side
Even if he’s got his male ego to take care of;
And when everything else in this world turns its back on me
He’s there with his waiting arms for me
He will be that one person I can call my pillar
To lean on when the weight of the world seems too heavy to bear
As I shall be the light that never gives out
Even in the darkest hour of his life.

Surreal

Something VERY unexpected happened today, and I can't seem to shake off this giddy feeling…

He smiled at me!!!

For a while I thought I was only imagining that it ever happened - to have his shy eyes actually looking at me and he's smiling that shy smile of his at some silly joke that blurted out of my mouth. For a split-second it seemed as if he was the only person I could see, as if time suddenly stopped...

Oh great! That just gave away my precious little secret to a friend. I guess the laughter in my eyes gave me away. So much for secrecy. Oh well, I'm too darn happy to worry over spilled secrets and traitorous happy eyes; my heart is giddy and my senses are oblivious to everything and everyone else. All but him.

*Sigh*

Can someone hand me a bottle where I can keep the moment and this feeling forever?

Ten Things I Love (And Always Will) About Sagada

One - Northward Bound

Trips up North of the country always excite me, having been living in the far South all my life. I’m a big fan of long drives (Minus Metro Manila traffic, of course.) Plus, it was my first time to spend 12 hours on the road, passing by provinces like Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Viscaya. Traveling along NLEx has always been a comfy experience for me, but as for the one that we had to pass through from Banaue going to Sagada, well… let’s just say it could get ‘bumpy’ along the way. I had three options: 1) Sleep through the travel (Which I did a LOT of times actually.), 2) Get into the groove with music on my phone with headset on (Which I also did but only occasionally, lest I’d want to run out of battery life on the road.) and, 3) Eat away with packed trail food (Thank goodness for Cassey’s love of Chips Ahoy! ^_^)

Two - Roadside Soundtripping

Times like these, there will be songs that tend to get stuck in your head as you play it over and over during the long-hour drive. It’s those so-called theme songs that, whenever I’d hear them play, reminds me of the fun and pasaway memories of the whole escapade even until now. I’ve got three songs in particular – The Man Who Can’t Be Moved (by The Script), Just So You Know (by Jesse McCartney), and Thunder (by Boys Like Girls).

Three - Mama Mary

No, I’m not referring to the Virgin Mary. Tita Mary (Hmmm… I still think Mama Mary definitely got more catch into it. ^_^) is the owner of Residential Lodge where we stayed in for 3 days/2 nights. She’s very warm and accommodating, even when she had to stay up VERY late waiting for us after our cave spelunking adventure which got us homeward back to the lodge by 11:30 p.m.

Four - Cave Spelunking 101

You know how back in grade school and high school I was the official ‘lampa’ of our class? Well, I had to be reminded of that when our crew when on a spelunking adventure in Sumaguing Cave (Which also serves as a burial cave, by the way. Hehehe… the story kinda gives me the creeps, especially that part where you see actual coffins with bodies that haven’t been mummified!). I got bruised and stumbled one too many times, BUT it was worth everything – the bruises, the pasa, the muddy feet, and that ouchy bump in the head.

Five - Trekking 101

As if the Sumaguing adventure wasn’t enough for my muscles and feet, we traversed downward from where we parked the vans all the way to Bomod-ok Falls on what seemed to be almost a two-hour hike. The heat and all that sweat was all worth it, though; Bomod-ok falls proved to be a spectacular sight to behold. We rested a good deal then started another long hike going back to our point of origin. Good thing we got back just in time for lunch. The later part of the itinerary was supposed to be a stopover at the St. Mary’s Church, Hanging Coffins, Sagada Rice Terraces and, finally, Orange Farm. At the end of the day, ‘tired’ was an understatement. Fulfilled? Definitely.

Six - There’s Kind Of Hush…

There’s a kind of hush all over the world tonight…

Seriously, there’s a certain calm about Sagada that let’s one bask in the peace and quiet of the surrounding nature. No exaggerations here; it’s not everyday that I get to enjoy the pure and unadulterated sound of the Northern wind blowing on my face. Even while we’re spelunking the Sumaguing cave, the sound of flowing water from parts of the cave seemed comforting. In fact, the quiet of the cave didn’t seem eerie at all.

Seven - Go Green!

Green. Green. Green.

Need I say more? ^_^

Eight - Kodakan Galore

Sigh. There were just too many scenic views in Banaue and Sagada. Admittedly, it’s too unfortunate that I didn’t have a digital camera with me during the entire trip, but I was able to take a few shots of my own using my mobile phone. Good thing there were folks who brought their SLR’s with them. That way, we could tag along with the pics. Geez, the whole trip made me want to seriously consider getting my own digicam, even just a compact one; the SLR could wait as far as my budget is concerned. ;)

Nine - Pasalubong Hunting

A stopover in Baguio before heading back to Manila provided ample time to buy pasalubong for my folks back in Manila. This time, Cassey and I did some last-minute pasalubong shopping at Baguio Market. With all that trekking up and down Sagada, the walk from SM City Baguio to Session Road was a piece of cake! ^_^


Ten - The Xperience

Blogging about it is the least I could do to express how much I’ve enjoyed my first Sagada experience (Bruises, cuts and all.)In fact, I’m planning to make it a yearly routine - there’s just something about the place that makes me want to go back over and over.

Twilight: And The Verdict Is...

Now I’ve more leisure time to resume blogging after some adventure trip up north (Which of course I’ll be telling y'all about in my next blog.). As promised, I’ve finished reading the last three installments of the Twilight series, all in a span of two-and-a-half days. If you ask me which book I liked best, well... 'like' isn't exactly the word I’d use, but as far as the saga is concerned, 'preferred' would be more appropriate.

All throughout the first three books, I felt as if the author was deliberately dragging the story for the most obvious reason. Then somewhere along the fourth installment, Breaking Dawn, Isabella "Bella" Swan FINALLY got out of her cocoon into a character with a life of its own yet one who lives and struggles for her beloved ones, especially Renesmee. Not exactly an extraordinary transformation but at least a fair dose of excitement was injected into Bella. The character of Edward Cullen has prevailed to be unfathomable throughout the saga - something that served as an ultimate redemption to Meyer's work, at least in my august opinion.

Now if there's anything that REALLY sucked in the whole Twilight saga, it would probably be the second book of Breaking Dawn, which was laid out from Jacob Black's perspective. (Yeah, Jacob - that hard-headed-and-all-too-impulsive werewolf BFF of charming little Bella.) Meyer could have done a LOT more justice if it was Edward's perspective that was featured instead that of Jacob's; Jacob merely served as a band-aid solution to Bella's calloused efforts and wounded pride, and his presence in the entire plot is simply to stress the friction between vampires and werewolves that's been going on for, like, what? An eternity? In other words, the story would still have prospered without Jacob's share of spotlight.

Overall, I still stand by my opinion that the plot still needs a LOT more work-up, there were too many unnecessary wordplay, and Bella's character was weaved in poor taste. However, I do admire the vivid illustration of Edward's consistency and his humorous sarcasm. And if there's anything I would congratulate Stephanie Meyer for, it's her ability to have created a sensational bestseller that's got very little to offer in terms of depth, passion, and wit.

By now I'm sure you all get the idea that am not such a huge fan of Meyer's Twilight series. That is as far as my personal taste and opinion on paperbacks are concerned. Agree or disagree with me, it doesn't matter, really; I'm just merely stating my other side of the coin. I'm still very much looking forward to the movie, though; something tells me it's gonna create some major fuss in the box office, judging from the reactions I’ve been reading from YouTube where the Twilight trailers are up and showing. As for me and the money I’ll be shelling out to see it on the big screen, I just hope it's all worth it.

^_^