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.

^_^

Twilight: Another SVH?

There's a hype going on about the motion picture adaptation of Twilight, the first installment of four from Stephanie Meyer. Judging from what I've been hearing and reading from friends and bloggers who have read the Twilight series, my curiosity was piqued, but not quite enough to buy the paperback from the nearest bookstore. In short, I was half-heartedly convinced that it just isn't worth my money. And so I decided to just download the e-book edition and see for myself if it was indeed at par to the likes of Rowling's and Coelho's works, as the press releases claimed it to be. In a span of 48 hours I was able to finish the first book and so far this is what I have to say...

It reminds me of Francine Pascal's Sweet Valley High novels, BIG TIME; only, there are no sun-kissed American blonde twins plus the setting of the entire novel is far from sunshiny California. But in terms of wordplay and plot depth, Twilight could very well pass for just another SVH Special Edition. The author simply failed to elevate the female protagonist to a certain level of emotional maturity that is expected to spring up given the severity of circumstances she was put into. Isabella Swan remained to be an introvert teeny bopper who transforms into a clumsy and giddy seventeen-year old in the presence of her vampire sweetheart throughout the first book. But if there's any consolation, Edward Cullen's character seemed to leap out of the pages; he was an enigmatic figure that's become a core pillar of the entire plot. As for the literature, Meyer dwelled too much on adjectival prose which is similar to a canvas with all too vivid hues that's disturbingly unnecessary. Needless to say, I was sorely disappointed. But, that is only as far as the first book is concerned. I already started reading the sequel, New Moon, hoping things would be stirring up for the two protagonists and that the plot would be an elevation from its predecessor. I'll let you know what I think once I've finished all three remaining books.

By now, I'm sure I'll be cursed and criticized by staunch Twilight and Stephanie Meyer fans that get to read this blog. Frankly, I don't mind. But don't get me wrong, though; I'm very much looking forward to the movie as a matter of fact. Who knows, maybe the movie could render better justice to Isabella Swan and to the plot as well. If it doesn't, then it might very well remain at that - just a hype.

Monday Chatter

It’s a Monday, and while it’s still too early to rant, allow me some breathing space before I get down to work.

I don’t feel well… ‘must’ve woken up with a slight fever. Hmmm… I can feel an ear infection coming and for sure it’s gonna get ugly.

I’m staring at my monitor and all I could muster is a screensaver mode – you know, that feeling you get when you’re still hung up over something like the weekend or a long vacay. In my case, my senses are already looking forward to the upcoming Sagada – Banaue rendezvous with Cassey this weekend. It’s gonna be a long ride to and fro, and I’ll be sharing it with you in my blog pretty soon.

Sigh.

I feel like… cooking! Yeah, I still have some leftover beef sirloin on hand in our fridge. With some Teriyaki sauce, cayenne powder and sesame seeds, I could whip up a handy Korean beef good for lunch at the office. Yummy!

Geez, I need to organize my thoughts. Sorry for the messed up prose, I haven’t sorted it out just yet.

Okay, I think I’m nattering now.

Online Purchase 101

I’ve always taken serious precaution whenever I’d make online purchases for those really-hard-to-find items on the net using my credit card. Those were the good old days when I was a frequent shopper on eBay or Amazon. And then I eventually got a little over it and my online shopping came to a rest.

Or at least I thought so.

And then there was Multiply. To be honest, I initially set up a Multiply account so that I can grab photos and vids from friends who were Multiply users as well. Later on I decided to revamp my site and utilize it for storing my own photos, videos and blog. I never expected that it would also serve as a medium in re-igniting that habit of purchasing stuff online – only this time sans the credit card.

It wasn’t easy at first – I was hesitant and a bit scared. What if I get scammed? Are these sellers for real? It was a big risk, but I decided to give it a try anyway.

Whenever I’d check out online sellers in Multiply, here are the top 3 things I consider before consider ANY transactions with the seller:

Seller’s Policy
One word: Respect. Ladies, if you’re planning to make online purchases, be sure that you’re clear on the seller’s policy before you actually commit to any transactions. Remember, ignorance is NEVER an excuse. Besides, it’s our hard-earned money that we’re gonna let go of, so might as well read the policy and FAQs (if any) so that you’ll know what agreement you’ll be getting yourselves into. If anything within the premise of the Policy is not clear to you, then by all means don’t hesitate to PM the seller for clarifications and further questions.

Customer Feedback
It’s important that a seller would have a Customer Feedback segment in her Multiply site. That way, it would be much easier for prospective customers to get an idea of how the seller is in terms of purchase delivery, customer accommodation, and overall service. Plus it could also give you an idea on what type of customers does the seller cater to. And once you’ve successfully completed a transaction, it’s only fair to share your buying experience via the Customer Feedback so that you can have something to share with other prospective customers as well.

Customer Accommodation
Luckily all of the online sellers I’ve transacted with so far have been very accommodating in terms of product specs and payment options, with some even offering freebies for early payments and those that accommodate payment extensions on some cases. These are top sellers that see to it that the transaction is well taken cared of from initial purchase to shipping. It’s a good way of making PR to customers like me, and at the same time I’ve no hesitations on making more purchases from these sellers in the future.

I’d like to share with you the sellers whom I’ve transacted with so far, all of them with very satisfactory customer service and I sooo love the products I bought from them; definitely worth every cent I spent!

http://shoppingforme.multiply.com
Goodie sites for bags and shoes plus stunnas for ladies. I’ve personally met the seller, Trisha Gonzalez, and every purchase with her has been a pleasant experience. Good thing her office is just a walking distance from mine; saves me up on shipping fee! ^_^

http://affordabags.multiply.com
Another goodie site for bagaholics out there who crave for not-so-pricey designer bags from US, aside from the usual RLs and LVs. Seller gives out freebies for early payment, and really on-time delivery of purchase just as previously committed.

http://jerseyhaven.multiply.com
Ladies, if you plan to get your boyfie or hubby some authentic sports jacket (Think NBA, PBA, UAAP, NCAA.), this site is for you. Guys can also check out this site, too, especially if you’re a jersey/jacket/warmer collector and really want good authentic stuff to add up to your collection. Also, the seller is really accommodating to customer inquiries.

http://lacosteatbp.multiply.com
Ahh, yes! This site was where I made my very first online purchase via Multiply. I haven’t met the seller personally, but she was really accommodating and nice. Another good thing is that the seller keeps me updated with latest offers and sales on her site via SMS. How convenient!

http://janicelorraineho.multiply.com
A fellow Lasallian who’s also into selling stuff in Multiply. Check out her site for some trendy tops. Good thing was that I was able to save up on shipping fee because I just had to meet up with her at school to pick up the items. ^_^

http://fetishfashionista.multiply.com
A really good friend way back since college who’s rising as an entrepreneur in Multiply. DEFINITELY NOT A SCAMMER! Plus she gives out good deals of sale on the items being sold every now and then so do check out her site from time to time and I hope you’ll find something you’ll like.

http://artemates.multiply.com

Another good friend, this time from way back gradeschool and highschool days, along with her clique who decided to start up their online shop in Multiply. Browsing at their online shop, I am amazed at the diversity of products they're selling. Hmmm... I guess it wouldn't be long before I drop by again, this time making my own purchase. *wink*

Well, there you have it. In time I’ll be adding up more sellers on the list but since there are still some pending transactions with them, I can’t summarize the whole buying experience just yet. Oh by the way, do check out this site:

http://officiallybanned.multiply.com

This site is dedicated to scammers and joy reservers/bogus buyers lurking about in Multiply. It's always good to be on the lookout, you know. Until then, happy shopping ladies!

An Undomesticated Sunday

On usual quiet Sundays, me and my family would hear mass in the morning then spend the day just lazing around at home, basking in what’s left of a so-called weekend.

But not today.

Instead of the usual domestic Sundays, we decided to hang around and have our usual double-movie-and-foodtrip combo at SM Mall of Asia; only this time it was a double foodtrip as well.

Remember what I told you about a possible post-birthday lunch for my mom? Well, she was craving for some Kapampangan food so we stopped by Mangan for lunch. Take note, it was my treat! ^_^ Aside from the good food and the classy ambiance of their SM MOA branch, the staff and crew were notably warm and extra attentive compared to the one in Makati. As for the food, Mangan never fails to be of great value for the money. We had a combination of Sinigang na Bangus sa Bayabas, Garlic Pugo Inadobo, Crispy Hito, and Ensaladang Mustasa for our main course. As for dessert, we originally ordered Bibingka with Quesong Puti and Salted Eggs, but because it wasn’t enough for my family of 4 (My parents both loved Mangan’s Bibingka so much!), we ordered another one and decided to try out their Bibingka with Queso de Bola and Salted Eggs. Both were equally delicious, served hot on our table. I guess it’s needless to mention here whether I’d still be coming back to the place or not. ^_^

Checking out the box office right after, it was a good thing that Tropic Thunder was already showing. Finally, some hardcore comedy for the weekend! Plus, it starred Ben Stiller, who happens to be one of my fave comedy actors in Hollywood, alongside Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr., plus a dozen other cameos as well. I won’t mention names so as to prevent anymore spoilers for those who haven’t seen it yet. As expected, I’ve always loved the Stiller Humor; never mind that Jack Black’s kinda exaggerated like he’s always been in his previous roles (Saved for Kung Fu Panda.) and Downey’s own approach was a little suave yet fairly effective. Oh yeah, watch out also for the fat bald guy in the movie! ^_^

Next stop was Body of Lies, top-billed by Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe. The movie’s not that much of the usual edgy espionage film, although the two main actors were notable in their performance as usual. I’m not a big fan of those themes of movies, so it was kinda off in my opinion. My parents liked it anyway, and in my august opinion DiCaprio has always been hott. ^_^

Last stop of the day was a quick dinner at North Park along Macapagal. Good thing we were seated right sway, because only a couple of minutes followed when people started piling in for dinner. Personally, North Park is one of those really nice places that offer affordable Chinese food with BIG servings and cozy ambiance. My parents ordered Nanking Beef Noodle and Wanton Noodle, and my cousin just ordered one Asado Pao. I, in turn, ordered Salted Garlic Squid and Tofu in BBQ Sauce for everyone. Oh, and I also tried their Cold Chrysanthemum Juice. At first it tasted kinda weird, but once your taste buds start getting used to it, it’s actually quite good. In fact, compared to the usual iced tea, it’s better in a different way.

Well, there goes another weekend. Geez, I hope I don’t get into screensaver mode during tomorrow’s morning meeting because for sure I’d still be hung up on my weekend. Oh well, I’m looking forward to tomorrow night, though; Cardio Striptease is in tow during after-office hours. I hope one of my girls will be joining me; it’s a lot more fun when I’ve got my girls sweating away with me. ^_^

Rainy Days and Birthdays

This morning I got out of bed and went over to look out of the window before getting into the most dreaded part of my early morning ritual during workdays – the shower. Outside, dark clouds hovered over and not a trace of the slightest sunshine was in plain sight.

Sigh.

Looks like someone’s going to have a rainy birthday. A VERY rainy birthday, in fact.

Today my mom celebrated her 63rd birthday with an early morning mass, a gourmet breakfast made by dad, and a hearty dinner of pasta, grilled chicken, and salad. And needless to say, the October rain came in to celebrate with us as well. Too bad I had to attend to some unfinished work at the office during the earlier half of the day, after which I went with my cousin to buy the stuff I’m going to need for my pasta-and-salad combo. I seldom cook pasta nowadays, but because mom especially requested that I whip up something a little more special for her birthday, I decided to get my ever-reliable cookbook for something I haven’t tried before. Here’s what my menu for tonight looked like:

Main Course:

- Beef Strips with Vermicelli (Click here for full recipe)

- Grilled Chicken

Side Dish:

- Wilted Greens Salad (Click here for full recipe)

Wow, I quite forgot how much I enjoy cooking pasta! As for the grilled chicken, dad’s own recipe was superb. (Hmmm… it must be the whiskey which was part of the marinate mixture. ^_^) By the end of dinner, everyone could only say one thing; “Burp.” True, the food may not be as elaborate as it used to when we’d eat out somewhere fancy like the previous years (But I bet a post-birthday lunch or dinner is in tow. ^_^), but it was just as special and fun. We were originally planning on dessert that’s waiting in the fridge, but I guess with all that pasta and chicken, dessert will probably have to wait until the next day. For now, soda and water will do.

Looking at my mom from across the dining table, I realized now why she never once did deny her age if anyone ever asked. At 63, my mom could pass for a 40-year old with a decent matronly figure and a delicate taste for clothes and accessories. Seeing the disbelief on people’s faces when they hear the truth about her age is one great flattery for a woman of her stature. Yup, time seemed to have slowed down on her, making people a little dubious whenever she’d present her Senior Citizen’s ID in public places we’d go to. I guess if there’s one song that befits her, it would be “Beautiful In My Eyes” and “Isn’t She Lovely”, just as she is and forever will be beautiful in the eyes of my dad and to the only daughter she’s got.

Happy Birthday Mum! ^_^

With All That's Said And Done...

In my previous post, I re-posted a blog entry from a fellow Lasallian about how he ardently condemned the "Ateneo Bonfire Incident" - something which I'm sure almost all of my readers are too familiar with by now and that which has caused a looong trail of enraged Lasallians voicing out their indignant protests- along with my personal sentiments on the matter as well. I still stand by what I said that it was a disgusting thing to do - the least which I'd expect from any member of the Ateneo community - and was done in such downright poor taste. A lot of not-so-pleasant words have been exchanged from both Green and Blue fences since then, and for a while it seemed as if the verbal war would never come to a halt. Then last October 2, 2008 Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, S.J., president of ADMU, released an official letter of apology to Bro. Armin Luistro, FSC and to the Lasallian community. See image below for the entirety of the letter.

As it turned out, the genius behind the idea of painting the bamboo planks with the names of the DSLU Green Archers team and then burning it into a bonfire is an ADMU alumni, Mr. Jesse Paredes. Here's what the guy had to say about what he had just done:

************************

Fr. Bienvenido F. Nebres, SJ

President

Ateneo de Manila University

Dear Fr. Nebres,

I write this letter for two reasons. The first one is to own up to producing the materials with the names of the Green Archers and placing them prominently in the woodpile before the bonfire for all to see.

Secondly, I sincerely apologize to you for the queasy situation you are in as a result of the backlash it created.

While the nature of this letter is a personal apology to you, please feel free to extend it to parties you may deem fit to receive it.

Sincerely,

Jesse Paredes

HS’54, AB’58

************************

With all that's been said and done, I think it's high time to step on the brakes and call it a day. What's done is done, and apologies have been made. The best thing to do is to keep in mind the lessons learned out of this whole incident, and move on. (But I must admit, this thing is something that's gonna be far from forgotten as far as most Lasallians are concerned.)

Whew, what a season UAAP Season 71 has been - the passion for collegiate basketball, school loyalties, and a face-off between the most celebrated rivalry in the history of UAAP. Until the next season, mates! :)

ANIMO LA SALLE!!!

An Atenean Way...???

I found this post in the DLSU Manila groups in Multiply, that which I'm a member of. Being a Lasallian by heart, the image left me with disgust for those people who had the bright idea of coming up with a bonfire such as this. Honestly, is this the way Ateneo celebrates victory? This question is directed to everyone who gets to read my blog - Lasallians, Ateneans, and otherwise.

ADMU Burning DLSU Basketball Team
By Sherwin

Ateneans, we understand that you need to have fun and to quell your pain to have another championship party because your last championship was 6 years ago so we're giving it to you. We've got no problem with that. Besides, there is always next year for all of the other teams to bounce back so go on, have your victory party. But please don't take it too personal to a point that you will burn the names of our team's players, management and staff. We don't usually take it into offense that you refer to us in a playful way but if you are going to burn the names of the people who make up the De La Salle Green Archers, you might as well have the balls to burn our names.

See what you did? You all got us fired up. We will make sure that this will reach the Green Archers team. Ateneans, just hope that we won't get back at you. Just pray. We promise a chicken party when we get back at you next year. We'll also make sure that you're all personally invited! You Ateneans really won't like it when we Lasallians bounce back.