Something For The So-Called Gucci Gang

"Basta chismis, blog talaga panalo!"

Last Saturday, I was out with two of my friends in Promenade to see some flick, something the three of us haven't done in a long while altogether. And somewhere in between having smoothies and donuts while waiting for our screening time, we can't help but discuss a common topic that has been abuzz in the bloggers' world. What am I talking about? It's actually the controversial blog site of Brian Gorrell starring nonetheless DJ Montano and Co. (a.k.a. The Gucci Gang). For those who who aren't familiar with DJ Montano, I wouldn't even bother describing him since I've been talking about him with friends all too often that it's making me quite sick already, but at least the name Celine Lopez rings a bell, I hope. Turns out that the blog site is all about how DJ stole huge amount of money from this Brian guy, so in retaliation the rest of the Gucci Gang (including Celine Lopez and Tim Yap) had their dirt out in the open. You can check out the blog here.

Honestly speaking, the blog is an amazing mix of humor, sarcasm, and plain old hatred. As one of my friend (who happens to be a blog aficionado) puts it, "Basta chismis, blog talaga panalo!" I couldn't agree more. Quite frankly, I'm getting a little too sick of reading all the so-called shit about Celine and the Secossa-- err, Gucci Gang. Hey, everybody knows that those poor little filthy rich dawgs and biatches have their own [huge] piece of the dirt. But I'd have to give credit to Brian. At least he's giving everyone else a little something to talk, laugh, and mock about. And as for the Gucci Gang, it sure is one hell of publicity, if you ask me; bad publicity, that is.

A Beautiful Finale

"Death is not the enemy; forgetting is the enemy. And we have conquered it..."

It was just one of those few memorable lines from the episode finale of Maging Sino Ka Man Book 2, and my roomie and I were, should I say, overwhelmed by the ending. Yes, Celine's character's death was a loss (well at least for all JB-Celine fanatics out there, like me! Haha!) and while it wasn't exactly the fairy tale ending for some of the characters in the drama, still I must say that it was a beautiful and befitting ending. And of course, what is an ending without some of the unforgettable quotes that says a lot about life and love, even for the most skeptical of them all.

"If there's one thing I learned in life, hijo, you don't necessarily have to be alone; you don't have to be alone. Nag-iisa ka lang kapag tinulak mo na lahat, ang lahat palayo. Hindi maganda ang mag-isa."

-Corazon Berenguer (to her son JB)

"My love, this is my first time here since you left. What a better time to come back; happy anniversary. It's been two years, who would have thought; two years running and I keep falling in love with you more and more. Love, you know what I realized? Death is not the enemy; forgetting is the enemy. And we've conquered it 'coz we have so many beautiful memories together that last two lifetimes. And so I love you, and I will love you now until the next. That is my choice, Celine. And I'm happy with my choice. Because like what you said, our love - it is the BEST. I love you, Celine, and thank you for giving me FOREVER."

-JB (ode to Celine)

"Bumalik ako, 'di ba? At palagi akong bumabalik para sa'yo. Jackie, kung meron pang higit sa 'Mahal kita', yun ang para sa'yo. Yun ang pag-ibig ko para sa'yo. "

-Eli (to Jackie)

I remember how not too long ago, Pangako Sa'yo has made it's mark on Philippine TV history with the stellar performance of the cast, especially the popular rivalry of Amor Powers versus Madam Claudia (and I'd like to stress on the word 'Madam', hahaha!). And as we bid goodbye to MSKM, it would take a while (geez, I hope not too long a while) before another drama could be compared at par to the overall production and impact of the drama to its viewers. Kudos to the team behind Maging Sino Ka Man who so boldly presented the facets of love behind the boob tube.

My Top Random 100 Revisited

"It took me almost a month to complete this list."

Before 2007 ended, I posted my 'supposedly yearender by making up a list of my so-called top random 100. It's basically a list of random facts about me that people don't usually ask on any regular day. I guess it was my way of sharing a more personal aspect of me to anyone who'd bother to read my blog then. And now, I'll be closing my Friendster blog for good (Let's face it, maintaining the profile and photos itself in Friendster takes a lot hell more time than finishing lunch), I would want to preserve my top random 100 so that whoever hasn't read it (especially since I've moved on to a new blog site just recently) may get to know me better on a more personal note. And for those who have read it, I guess it'll remind you that yes, I may not always be who (or what) I seem to be.

1. I love cats; dogs kinda' scare me.
2. I'm 1/2 Cabalen, but I haven't really exerted much effort in coming up with a single sentence in Kapampangan.
3. Way back during high school and college, I hated the color Pink. I'd walk inside a boutique with my mom and I'd shiver whenever she'd tell me to try some pink blouse or shirt on.
4. I've experimented with quite a number of hairstyles - from layered bob, straight, or shaggy. I even had a very boyish cut during high school as part of my 'experimentation'.
5. The final taste of my mom's sensational spaghetti has always been up to me. For as long as I can remember, I've always played the role of my mom's taste tester. It's actually quite fun!
6. For my very first salary, I bought this laptop bag for PhP 3k.
7. I'm not a very chocolatey person, but show up on my doorstep with Lindt Pistachio and we'll see where we get from there...
8. Whenever I'm stressed, I have this freaky habit of having nightmares that make me scream in the dead of the night. Common theme: COCKROACH!!!
9. I just feel like I have this invisible antenna with me that makes me uber-alert whenever some creepy-crawling insect is nearby.
10. I've seen a white lady before, and the feeling still sends shivers until now.
11. I'm a sucker for Oriental arts.
12. I had a crush as early as my first day of school during Kindergarten, and it lasted for 4 years! Get this: the boy I liked then used to pick his nose big time!
13. Once, I cut out the jacket of my classmate because I wanted him to notice me since he was my huge crush that time. I was eleven.
14. Up to this day, I still get scared of Lotus Feet (you know, that freaky Chinese ghost in the movie Feng Sui, starring Kris Aquino).
15. In relation to item no. 14, my mom and I am a big Kris Aquino fan.
16. I'm fatally allergic to shrimp.
17. I would get red blotches on my arms and thighs whenever I'd have too much gin and vodka to drink.
18. December is my second most favorite month of the year, next to my birthday month which is May.
19. I was 8 lbs. when my mom gave birth to me.
20. I prefer ice-cold fruit juice in the morning than coffee.
21. In my opinion, Jollibee Chickenjoy is still the best fried chicken, although KFC has always served the bestest gravy.
22. When I was a kid, I used to think that being a radio jock is the bestest job in the world.
23. I cried so much when Rico Yan passed away.
24. I think guys with cool cars are hot, but I honestly don't think they're boyfriend material.
25. I hate putting on lipstick! I'm such a lip gloss fan.
26. The most romantic wedding proposal for me? Reroute the traffic and propose right at the middle of Ayala Avenue.
27. I'm addicted to Korean dramedies.
28. Never keeping your promises is the second worst thing a guy could do to me, next to cheating of course.
29. I hate wearing jewelries.
30. In my opinion, any guy who can stand ONE WHOLE DAY of shopping with his girlfriend is one of the sweetest thing a guy can do.
31. I only had the guts to wear loop earrings after 24 years.
33. I'm a sucker for telenovelas, both local and foreign.
34. Tocino and fried rice is my favorite breakfast, coupled with fruit juice.
35. I could finish a bucket of popcorn in 20 minutes, just before the feature film begins.
36. Eric Santos is my dream wedding singer.
37. I'm a big Pinoy Big Brother fan.
38. I have this huge crush on John Lloyd Cruz.
39. Nothing beats having vanilla-flavored ice cream after a Space Shuttle ride in
Enchanted Kingdom.
40. I used to have at least 20+ slum books back in grade school.
41. I'm not even halfway through the recipes in my Pasta cookbook.
42. I fancy Korean songs from my favorite Korean series (even if I don't understand a single line from the songs I listen to).
43. Seriously, I think Rain of Full House have an overrated sex appeal.
44. I could finish an entire can of button mushroom as is.
45. The bestest omelet for me is the Four-Cheese omelet from Deli
France.
46. I can finish up a medium-sized burger in 6 big bites while still keeping my mouth closed while chewing down the whole thing.
47. Whoever invented 'pork n' beans'? Yuck!
48. Had I been a boy, Mom said I would have been named 'Emmanuel'.
49. I could finish 6 ketchup sachets (the ones given out by fast foods) in one sitting.
50. I quit smoking because of the breakouts it caused on my face.
51. I enjoy cold red wine from the fridge.
52. When I enter the mall, the first place I go to is the ladies' room to freshen up.
53. Sadly, I've never had a Levi's jeans.
54. I never fully memorized the multiplication table back in grade school.
55. Back in first grade, my mom was called to see my homeroom adviser because I punched a male classmate in the jaw and it made him cry.
56. Honestly, I think Captain Planet can be so gay.
57. Plain yogurt is a staple whenever I cook any white-sauced pasta.
58. “I’ll Be” by Edwin McCain is my all-time favorite song.
59. As a kid, I've always monopolized the Sailormoon role with my playmates.
60. Whoever remembered the cartoon Candy Candy in IBC 13? I never quite saw the ending. Too bad.
61. I think Yellow 4 of the Bioman stint was way cooler than Pink 5. Pink 5 can be sooo lame.
62. I had a teddy that suffered a lot - one eye missing, torn limbs and all.
63. I am a voracious eater.
64. I never learned to cook rice until I was 24 years old.
65. I always order an additional cheese whenever possible.
66. Japanese food always leaves me feeling sooo sleepy after eating.
67. My favorite Filipino food is my mom's Kare-Kare and Sinigang.
68. I like Cesar Gaupo's creations whenever I have to wear something JUST a little bit formal for an occasion.
69. Didn't actually know when it exactly started, but I consider myself a shoeholic nowadays.
70. I have really delicate skin on my feet so I have to be really picky about the shoes I buy.
71. I know a lot of people will disagree, but I think Krispy Kreme is a bit overrated.
72. I don't have anything yellow to wear in my closet.
73. For me, a trip to
Parisis THE honeymoon place to be.
74. When I walk across the street going to work, I keep a happy song playing in my head over and over to kinda like pretend I'm some heroine in a tv series - could be Ally McBeal or Meredith Grey.
75. Episode 9 of Heroes Season 2 was the only Heroes episode that ever made me cry.
76. I could fall for a guy like Hiro Nakamura; he's so lovable!
77. I hate planting. Getting in contact with soil and certain plant leaves always give me rashes on my arms.
78. I used to have this huge collection of Funny Komiks back when I was a kid.
79. I was never a Barbie Doll fan as a kid. I'm more of the Lego kid.
80. Having bought 15 pairs of Havaianas makes me kinda sick of buying them for the next year or so.
81. I am way better in English compared to Math (and any other subject which involves numbers and figures).
82. Goal during grade school: get the top spot in honors list.
83. Goal during high school: pass the university entrance exam.
84. Goal during college: get it on with the thesis and get the Bachelor's degree.
85. I've never bought a Chuck Taylor... as in ever!!!
86. My most expensive top so far? A tee that costs PhP 5K!
87. I've never dined in a Spanish resto.
88. I'd still prefer tequila over any other brand of vodka.
89. I'm not a big fan of rings and necklace. I'm more of a charmbracelet person.
90. I'm a bit more like Meredith Grey than Ally McBeal.
91. I love the whopper of BK, the fries of McDonald's, the gravy of KFC, and the CHICKENJOY of Jollibee.
92. My most favorite Walt Disney movie is Mighty Ducks 1 to 3.
93. I've never seen the movie Top Gun by Tom Cruise.
94. I hate wearing stilettos... they're such torture!!!
95. If a guy likes me, he may as well be a man and confess his feelings for me... then we'll see where we go from there.
96. If I wasn't a Catholic, I'd probably be a Jew.
97. For someone who has lived a provincial life until my early twenties, living and working in the city forced me to master the art of crossing the street - with or without a pedestrian lane, green light or red light!
98. I prefer my Halo-halo with powdered full cream milk, instead of evaporated milk.
99. Honestly, I have 80 pieces of hankies (and counting).
100. It took me almost a month to complete this list. :)

A Krispy Kreme-y Day

"Spartans!!! Get your freakin' doughnuts!!! Ahoo! Ahoo! Ahoooooo!!!"

The day was 03.28.2007. At exactly 6:00 a.m., the newest Krispy Kreme branch along Ayala Avenue formally opened its doors to it's first 300 Spart-- I mean customers. For those who aer not familiar with the drill, everytime Krispy Kreme opens a new branch, the 1st customer gets a year's worth of free glazed doughnuts, the 2nd customer is rewarded a 6 months of the same variety, the 3rd is rewarded with 3 month's worth of glazed doughnuts, and the customers # 4 up to 300 enjoys a month-long glazed doughnuts. That's about 1 dozen per week. Wow, talk about some major glaze rush. And I mean MAJOR! ^_^

I took the challenge upon myself to target being the 1st customer of the new store. Unfortunately, I got there at around 12:30 a.m. and there were 7 to 10 people already lined up. I managed to be customer no. 13. Not bad, eh?

The fun part was not exactly the point where you enter the store (believe me, it's just like any new store opening for the first time - the smell of new furnitures, waxed and polished floors, the smell of just-brewed coffee, etc). The fun part begins while you wait for the bewitching hour of, in this case, 6:00 am. Hearing people complain about the long queue and discuss other matters about doughnut, one would think that it's as if it's the most unexplained mystery beyond man's comprehension. Some would even get into a fight saying they should've been customer no. 7 but because of some naturally sneaky persons, they landed on number 10+ instead. Come to think of it, it's not quite worth losing your composure over some glazed doughnuts, hehe. Plus it spoils the fun and excitement of the event. Fortunately in my case nothing of that sort happened.

Ever wondered why I started off this particular entry with a spoof of the famous Spartans dialogue from 300? Because I just realized while eating a piece of the glazed doughnuts that a single doughnut such as this could turn 300 customers into Spartans - well, not really to conquer Persia but in this case, to get their month's worth of free, freakin' delicious doughnuts.

Lissy Is Coming Home

"Big wheels keep on turning

Carry me home to see my kin

Singing songs about the Southland..."

-from the song 'Sweet Home Alabama'

In four days' time I'll be moving out of my dormitory in Manila and will be living full-time in my hometown - all the way down South, Cavite. For more than a year and a half, I've had my share of how it was to live the so-called life, Manila style. I've also met quite a handful of, err, interesting people with whom I've shared a room which I call my Manila home away from home.


Dorm mate #1 (a.k.a. Ms. Nerd)

Well, there's not much to say about her, except that she's the typical nerd (books, computers and all) who prefers to lock herself in the bathroom whenever she's got to review for an exam or whatever (geez, I really thought I heard her bang her head against the bathroom wall one time), can throw very bad fits of tantrums (she could be sooo way overacting!), cries herself to oblivion (OBLIVION?!? Now where did that come from? Haha!) when her printer won't work or if she can't find the missing cap from her USB stick. Ask me if I know anything about her social life, I would have to say she's every bit of an anti-social. Really. Unbiasedly speaking. For the rest of my stay in the dorm with her, I've tolerated her and tried my very darn best to understand where she's coming from as a student (but I swear schoolwork never made me cry, not even a sniff). But one morning I just couldn't take any more of her dramas and until now, we are on we're-so-not-talking mode. I don't really mind; I'm so fine with it. Haha!


Dorm mate #2 (a.k.a. Ms. Shopaholic)

She's the typical girl who hails from a well-off family, loves to shop, has got a lot of friends of all, err, sexual orientations, and a cute smiling face to go with it. She's got good sense of humor and I pretty much liked her myself. As a matter of fact, I could see much of my self as a student in her - the last-minute assignments and presentations, constant Friendster updates and the like. She moved out last year to transfer to a bigger space in a condo nearby. I kinda miss her actually.


Dorm mate #3 (a.k.a. Dr. Couch Potato)

Dr. Couch Potato could sleep until 3 in the afternoon after having watched TV from 3 in the afternoon up to really morning the following day, straight. A true-blue Kapuso, the tv channel is never switched to anything else besides the Kapuso channel. She's also into Korean dramas like me, and her biggest crush as I remember was the Korean actor who starred the lead in Jumong. She's pretty quiet most of the time, but she's nice and has got a wicked sense of humor if she's up for it. A few weeks after Ms. Shopaholic moved out she also moved out to pursue her medical practice in the United States.


Dorm mate #4 (a.k.a. The Sexy Mama)

Now this particular room mate was rather a peculiar one, having stayed only for a few hours in the dorm. She claimed herself to be a 'health practitioner' who's into 'wellness and aesthetic healing'. Why a hot mama? Well, at her age of 40+, she prefers to sleep with only the blanket on. It would have been normal, except that she might have forgotten that she's in a dormitory. For the record, she did't really move out; she just received an 'emergency call' that same night she was supposed to move in, and we never saw nor heard from her again. Kinda weird, huh?


Dorm mate #5 (a.k.a. A Kindred Mama)

She's my kindred in most aspects - from tastes in tv shows (well, sort of; we're both Kapamilya and enjoy watching John Lloyd in Maging Sino Ka Man), movies (a big Popoy-Basia fan like me), music (we both dig artists like Vonda Shepard and some songs from the 80's), books (we're both Judith McNaught fan), and everything else. She's a proud momma to Yale (her potential-heartbreaker-of-a-guy son), and a woman who knows her worth. I'm gonna miss her and all her adventures (and misadventures) in life and love.

Well, there you have it. This girl's going back to being a full-time Southern babe. I've had quite a lot of fun and too-many-to-mention learning experiences which only the city can offer. Sure, I'm gonna miss the nights spent at the city and all the luxury of time I had to go out and party with my girls 'til the wee hours of night. But coming home to home-cooked meals, soft bed with plush pillows, and the solace of my own room makes the 'moving out' process oh so easy.

Thanks For The Honesty, Seriously!

"I really, really like you... but I don't want you to fall in love with me because I'm a bad person and the last thing I want is to make you cry..."

Say what?!

Remember the guy I was raving about in my previous blog entries (the great first date, the make-or-break second date, the BIG question, etc.)? Well, he turned out to be a commitment phobe who doesn't have the slightest inclination to commit in a serious relationship. Oh well, good thing he was pretty honest about it. Too bad though; I really felt we really had a connection (or so I thought) and had a lot in common. If you ask me what I think of him now, I would say he wasn't a complete jerk... he was just one fine specimen representing the male polygamy. True, having heard him say those words was kinda irritating, not to mention I was thrown a little off balance. But it wasn't any loss at all on my part. I had a good time with him, lots of meaningful conversations and good laughs, the least I can do is charge it to experience, move on, and live a happy single life... FOR NOW. ^_^

Signs (No, We're Not Talking Mel Gibson Flick Here)

I have a roommate who likes asking for signs from God. Whenever she’d arrive home from work or school, she would often start her kwento with “Alam mo bang humingi ako ng sign kay God kanina?...” Oftentimes it would amuse me because she’s the type who keeps asking repeatedly for signs to answer a single question, and I could almost imagine God saying “So gusto mo pa rin ng sign ha. Sige hija, hetong sa’yo…”

I, for one, am not really a big fan of asking God for signs whenever I have some questions or doubt about whatever’s happening in my life. But that doesn’t mean I don’t ask for signs once in a while, of course I do. In fact, I recently asked for one this Holy Week to aid me in coming up with a decision I have to make before the long weekend is over. As I prayed for God to give me the sign, I remember having requested it to be given before Good Friday is over (wow, talk about deadlines!). I didn’t expect then that what I asked for would materialize, just like the previous ones I asked of HIM. Well, surprises of surprises, I got my sign right on time. Honestly, it was the answer I knew my heart have always wanted, and I can’t help but utter a silent “Thanks Lord!” because it’s not everyday that people are granted signs which they ask for. As for me, all I can say is “IT’S A SIGN!”

An Ode To A Love Story

"I love you not because of what you can give me, but because of what you can take, I am so willing to give, I love you because... I love the me when I'm with you, sometimes you have to fight hard just to make love survive, get hurt, always badly but what's important is that you gave it a shot, real love is never regretful and even if it fails to last, real love should only make you a better person, a stronger person, and in love real strength is knowing when to give up the fight and finally let go!" - JB Berenguer (to Celine Magsaysay), MSKM Book 1

More often than not, what actually makes a great love story are the unforgettable quotes from the characters about how love is seen from every true lover's eyes. The words spoken may hint of pure bliss, joy, despair, hurt, and even hatred. Love stories remind us that love, in it's every aspect, is as inevitable as the air we breathe in order to live.

In two week's time, my most favorite soap opera on prime time TV, Maging Sino Ka Man (Book 2), will bade farewell on air. I am not ashamed to admit that I have been a staunch follower of the series, something which I share with the rest of the Diaz clan (yes, we are all PROUD KAPAMILYA). I must say it's not really the raunchy scenes of JB and Celine (Sam Milby and Anne Curtis) in Book 1 that got me hooked to the drama, nor the all-too-often pa-tweetums scenes of Eli and Jackie (John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo). The unforgettable words from the main characters, not to mention the different facets of love depicted in the drama, has made its way in my family's hearts that led to our MSKM addiction. I would like to share the unforgettable poem by JB to his dear Celine at a point in the drama when epiphany dawned onto him and he realized that what he shared with Celine was, after all, true love. This is my ode to what I can consider as the greatest love story that television has ever written... so far.

One day I will disappear completely.
The letters will mean nothing.
The world will get tired of me. You will get tired of me.
I will get tired of myself, and die.
But I will never get tired of you.
For you, there will be no endings.
I will say your name over and over, like a refrain;
My prayer to no one
Then I’ll be a flower, the one you'll never pick.
And will endure the breathless waiting till boundaries disappear.
With nothing to do, I make new constellations.
Images of you as I remember – dancing, sitting, walking...
There are stars from a different view.
But still, I see nothing but you.
Unfurling like a flower
Swiveling like a leaf...
I once watched you sleep beside me.
It was dark then, but the darkness is deeper now.
Tonight in my dreams I will see you, my lady, clothed only in light...
Like a kite, I've given my self up to the wind.
I made friends with the sun; confused the birds with strange and distant voyages. But it is you that ties the thread and hauls me down.
Like a kite, I will forever hold your hand.
And with a burning human longing, in your hands, I surrender.
I will never get tired of you.
For you there will be no endings.
I will say your name over and over...
Celine... Celine... Like a refrain; my prayer to no one.
You know I will never get far.
And there is no need for my return.
I've never been a traveler
For I have never left.
I am lost, simply wanting to be in a place I've never been, and will never be.
Of all destinations, I long to be lost in the fields of your hair,
Lost among your thoughts as you are already in mine.
You are my imperative to live.
My life started when I loved you.
And that's how I want it to end.

-JB

The So-Called Broken Road

"This much I know is true that God blessed the broken road that led me straight to you."

This was taken from the Friendster shout out of a good friend of mine who, by the way, is getting married come the merry month of May. Shs's someone I got to know when I entered graduate school and as it turned out, we had a lot of things (and kalokohans) in common, just enough to make her blurt out one time that “Grabe, we’re sooo friends!”

Nathalie Gail, or Gail (as most people would prefer to call her) is just like any woman of her age – career driven, kikay inside and out, friendly and very outgoing, loves to travel, bratinella, and yes – a true romantic. It wasn’t long before we clicked and eventually became good friends, with lots of fun and happy memories to share, and a few good girly secrets to keep. Like any woman (including yours truly), she’s wistfully wishing for The One to come her way. Judging from her cheery exterior, one will not think that this bubbly and outspoken girl has had her share of hurt and pain from someone who, as she describes the guy, “turned her life in 360-degrees”, sometime a long time ago. That’s why I’m so happy now that she’s found her true happiness with her One, in the person of an old childhood friend who turned out to be the very version of the knight-in-shining-armour which was exactly what she hoped for. In fact I’ll be playing secondary sponsor to her entourage, something I’d gladly do for a dear friend who’s found her lifetime happiness at last.

Now, as I type away on this blog, I can’t help but ask myself if I’ll ever be as happy as Gail is now, at least maybe someday. Theirs was a wonderful love story, and it makes me wonder if one day I’ll be able to write my own love story as well – one that wasn’t inspired by any movie or books, not even by anyone else. It will be my own version of My One and our very own happy ending. If the path I’m taking right now is the so-called broken road, then I fervently hope that happiness is waiting at the end of this journey.

All the best wishes to Gail and her Vip!!!

Moving On and Looking Back

"Open the door and come in, I'm so glad to see you my FRIEND..."

A few months back, I swore to move on and keep my ex-boyfriend out of my life because of all the angst and hurt brought about by a painful breakup. And for a while, I was able to do so – I deleted his contact information from my Yahoo! Messenger, email, mobile phonebook, and even deleted him from my Friendster friends list. And slowly, like a baby taking its first steps one at a time, I was able to live the kind of life that existed before he came into the picture – a happy, carefree single life with family and friends at the heart of everything I do. I was once again that happy girl with a lot of options and opportunities ahead of her, and not afraid to brave out untested waters but with just enough confidence to keep her grounded. 2008 started out well for me, free of any emotional baggage and with renewed enthusiasm for life and love. Yeah, I guess I pretty much moved on. And then…

I didn’t know what got into me, but just recently I decided to drop a casual message to my ex via Friendster, just to say hi – just that. (Geez, if ever one of my girlfriends finds out that I did that, they’d call me silly, even crazy, for doing such.) I never expected a reply from him or anything; I just wanted to wish him well. Surprisingly he replied and it was the start of a long thread of conversation about whatever happened to each other’s lives after quite some time of not keeping in touch. In fact, I haven’t seen him for almost a year now, and to be honest I sort of miss him. Don’t get your red warning flag up just yet; it’s the kind of feeling one might have for an old friend with whom so much in life has been shared with but then for some reason life takes an unexpected turn that leaves you taking separate roads and, eventually, separate lives.

From the looks of it, he seems happy now with the things going on in his life plus he’s got a new love to keep him inspired, while I am enjoying my life with the company of my family, loyal girlfriends, good food, and some booze on the side (Err, I was just kidding about the 'booze' part). As for the love department, I’m taking my time on this one. On one of our conversations, he made me promise him that our next coffee would be on me. I, in turn, reminded him that he still owes me a long-overdue lunch. We had a good laugh over it, and I can’t wait to see him again soon – my dear old friend, nothing more but definitely nothing less.

The Make-Or-Break Date (Part 2)

Friday night it is.

You might ask “Whatever happened to the Tuesday night so-called date?” Well, there were some, err, conflicts with his schedule (school, meetings, family affairs, etc.) and mine (school, work, previous commitments) so what was supposed to be a Tuesday night out became a Friday dinner date (and much more).

It was quite an enjoyable evening and, admittedly, we had a blast (or at least I know did). We encountered some interesting people as well, starting off with the two Aussie businessmen who are here at the country for work. See, the guy I was with (yes, until now I refuse to reveal his name for anonymity’s sake) overheard the two Aussie guys (by the way, they go by the name of Andrew and some Bert Reynolds look-alike) checking out the, uhmm, girls (?) at the other table across from us. Actually, they’re a group of gay cross-dressers out on the hunt for the night. So out of pure genuine concern (or at least that’s what I thought it was), my guy (hmm… I like the sound of that) turned around to inform the two Aussies that the “girls” were not what they seemed on the outside. The Aussies were shocked and were so grateful to us that they invited us to join them and even bought us one round of drinks. They were quite funny and interesting, having learned that they work for a pharmaceutical company. But I was put on the spot when they learned that it was our second date (as told by My Guy when he was asked if we were a couple). Good thing the place was dimly lit (we were hanging out in Café Havana in Greenbelt) so no one noticed me blush. Too bad we had to leave so soon because there was a birthday party that we’ll be attending somewhere in Bel-Air on the same night. Wow, that was some dinner!

We made it to Bel Air soon enough, where My Guy's friend, Mark, was hosting a dinner party at his place. I admit that at first I was quite apprehensive to come to the party, having felt like an intruder to what could be a party exclusively for family, close friends, and acquaintances. But the apprehension faded immediately as My Guy introduced me almost everyone he bumped into the party. They were quite a nice and happy bunch actually. I even met My Guy's friend who has been his friend since they were, like, 5 or something. Her name is Margaux, and she was a bubbly girl I instantly liked. Coincidentally, we share the same sentiments of having super strict and conventional parents.

I don't know if it's just the vodka or the calm of the night that made me realize that I'm beginning to appreciate My Guy even more. It was one thing to have a great first date, letting me have a sneak peek into his world and his circle of friends was another. Call it pogi points I guess. But I'm taking my time, as most people would call it, steady lang. There's no need to rush because I wanna enjoy every moment of being with him. You might ask, have I fallen for him? Nah, it's too early to say. Do I like him? I think this one's already in the process. Wherever is this leading to? Now that's the BIG question. So did I make or break it? Well, here's the clue: Looks like there's going to be a part 3. *wink*

Maroon 5 Live in Manila Concert (And The Morning After)

"It's not over tonight, just give me one more chance to make it right. I may not make it through the night, I won't go home without you..."

T'was an unforgettable night @ the Big Dome as my girl Cassey and I watched the Maroon 5: Live in Manila concert with, take note, front row access!!! Wow... things could never be better, as Maroon 5 main man Adam Levine (gosh, he looks even way hotter in person!!!) started singin' the hits from their new album It Won't Be Soon Before Long, including the songs Kiwi, Makes Me Wonder, and If I Never See You Face Again, amongst others. A couple of songs from the previous album Songs About Jane were also sung by the hottie Adam (but then again, 'hottie' is an understatement... haha) like This Love, Sunday Morning, and Sweetest Goodbye. But in my august opinion, the most soulful songs for the evening was when the pop band performed "Won't Go Home Without You" and "This Love", where the crowd did most of the singing together with Adam, which evidently impressed the pop group. Check out some pics below:

The concert was a huge success and me and my gurl had the time of our lives. As usual, there were local celebs (and couples) present during the evening, like Ogie A. and Regine V. (she's got such a small cute face in person), Bitoy (what you see on the boob tube is what you get), Sam M., and the power couple Heart and Echo.

*Sigh* I just wish they'd play the other songs in their new album like Better That We Break, which is just as good. But still, the night was one heck of screaming and jumping, and singing (and everything else that comes with fanatic-meets-idol situation). I'm crossing my fingers for a repeat concert from them. *Sigh* The ticket was sooooo worth it!!! I'll be putting up some more pics in my Friendster and Facebook album today. *wink*

The Make-Or-Break Date (Part 1)

Flustered.

If there's one word that best describes me now, it's F-L-U-S-T-E-R-E-D. Geez, I wish today was one of those days when I'd wake up to a perky alarm tone ("There's Nothing" by Sean Kingston ft. Paula Deanda), brush my teeth, indulge in a 15-minute shower, dress up for work, and expect whatever's gonna come - just another day in the life of Lissy. But today, there was something quite different with my morning. Sure, it was still the same perky alarm song, same routine in the sink and in the shower... except that this time there was a slight fluttering in my stomach (no, we're not talking about that which can be soothed by any medication), the kind that you get when you were in gradeschool and you were the assigned reporter in class for that day. Except that today, there's no class reporting nor do I have a major presentation at work. You see, I'm gonna meet a friend later tonight and it might be the last time I'm going to see him. Why? Well, there's a funny little storybehind it but I'd rather not dwell on that... for now. But just to cut the story short, I'll be seeing a great guy who can make me laugh, whom I can talk to for hours, and has tons of potential in the boyfriend department. But complications in our, err, social circumstances might hinder whatever good may come out of all this. To be honest, I'm gonna miss him dearly should this be the last of our encounter. But while I'm resigned to think that this is the last, I'm gonna do my part and enjoy the evening, enjoy his company, and everything else that the night will bring. Hmmm... that made me remember a line from one of Kelly Clarkson's song, "I don't know, this could break my heart or save me..."

Wish me luck, girls! =)

Uhh... Yeah, I Guess That Went Pretty Well

Finally... the weekend!!!

As the week comes to a close, so did my midterms in one of my subjects in graduate school. As usual, I prepped up for my exam like the professional crammer that I was (with a license!). The class was given a week to prepare (and hopefully, study) for the exam and, just like good 'ol times, cramming was the name of the game (ok, well at least for me.). Let me sum up whatever transpired this week in light of my midterm exam:

Feb. 23 (Saturday) - date of exam was announced, all lectures were uploaded in Yahoo! Groups
Feb. 24 (Sunday) - nuninuninu...
Feb. 25 (Monday) - nuninuninu...
Feb. 26 (Tuesday) - nuninuninu...
Feb. 27 (Wednesday) - Downloaded lecture files in my pc (and some more nuninuninu...)
Feb. 28 (Thursday) - Printed out the lectures and start reading (yeah right!)
Feb. 29 (Friday) - Some more readings (Darn, nothing's getting into my head...)
Mar. 01 (Saturday) - JUDGMENT DAY !

You won't believe it, but I was actually able to recall most of the stuff I read last night. I guess my mind is wired to work better when judgment days like this draw nearer. Hey, I know it's a bad practice and I won't even recommend cramming to kids and adults alike. All I'm saying is that it worked for me today as it had worked on me since gradeschool. But don't get me wrong, though. I'm trying to change my studying habits ever since... uhhh... gradeschool. Honest! Defensively speaking, my point is that I don't want to flunk the subject and I'm doing my share to accomplish that. And while I may be poor in the studying habits department, I still have enough willpower to pick up my lectures, sit for almost three hours flipping through the pages and taking down important notes. Why, the setup even includes highlighter pens!

Now on with the weekend, shall we? =)