Happy 2010!!!

Amidst all that has happened - the tragedies, trials and hardships, separation from and loss of loved ones - there's still so much to be thankful for. Life, though not exactly a walk in the park, is among the bestest gift God has given to us; that we may be alive today to usher in the coming new year. So with this thought, I close 2009 and look forward to 2010 in this last post for the year. (After all, the other catch-up posts can wait. ^_^ )

Happy New Year everyone!!!

The Shoebox Song

This is some random song I've written one Saturday afternoon, as I was doodling alone in a coffee shop. So even before the words get lost in my ever preoccupied mind, I'm writing this down in my blog. Who knows? Maybe someday my words could have a music and it will be a full-pledged song. As if! LOL! ^_^


I got myself a little shoebox
All laced up, just as girly as can be
It's big enough for all the mementos I keep in my heart
But can it hold up the rest of memories I have of you?
Of us?

I got myself a little shoebox
'Spent the day putting in the litters of pictures
Scenes from last spring, and how you sang me a song over coffee
The pictures could cover half of Manhattan
Now they're all boxed up in this shoebox of mine

Oh, but if it were up to me
I'd let our pictures fly all over the city
and let the people know of our history
But you were a bit selfish
And you wanted our memories all to ourselves
So I dropped by that little stationery store
Where I used to buy scented papers for love letters
and bought that cute little shoebox
A heart-shaped and laced up shoebox.

And so I got myself a little shoebox
Tucked in the rest of you inside
I'll keep it at the back of my little closet door
Until I forget that it's even there anymore
maybe by then your pictures have faded
The memories, shredded by space and time
And all that remains in the end of this song
Is the heart-shaped shoebox of mine.

AVATAR In Two Words

"Everything is backwards now, like out there is the true world and in here is the dream..." - Jake Sully

You've probably read more than a dozen rave reviews on Avatar - James Cameron's latest masterpiece that literally took 12 years in the making. Honestly, I was sorely itching to blog about it the day i saw it on the big screen - not on 3D nor IMAX - but just in your humble La-Z-Boy fashion. It was my piqued curiosity that made me wait until I've finally seen it on 3D before finally raving about it in my blog. After all, as corny as it may sound, I'm a 3D dummy so there's no better timing than this, right?

"I see you..." ^_^

Some described the movie as good (Which, in my august opinion, is way too much of an understatement), excellent, fantastic, brilliant, great, etc. Well, I'd sum up my opinion of the movie in two words: TIMELESS and RARE. Need I say more? Cameron has worked his magic into the big screen once again, this time even surpassing the wonder that was Titanic. Oh, and yes - watching it in 3D did quadruple the appreciation. LOL! If you're still in doubt or you think that this entry is just another mere exaggeration then, by all means, go and catch it on some local theater (But you'll have to wait until MMFF is over.) or just wait for some pirated DVD which - I'm sure - will be out on the streets in no time. Go and see for yourself. I wouldn't be surprised if you won't mind watching the movie again, and again (and again, and again...).

^_^

9 Mornings

This year, I took it upon myself to complete the series of Simbang Gabi that kicked off last December 16, 2009 or, in other words, nine days before Jesus' BIG day. I'd be a liar to say that I'm not wishing for anything in particular this Christmas; c'mon, I'm sure by now you all know what I want for Christmas. ^_^

But more than anything, completing the simbang gabi is the least I can do to express how thankful I am for the good year it's been for me and my loved ones. Sure, it hasn't been entirely perfect but overall, I can only recall a LOT of good memories, so much more than the less cheery ones. People have come and gone in my life, but the lessons learned are here to stay.

I wish that each one of you, whoever you are reading this blog, would feel just as thankful as I am and my family for the chance of celebrating another Christmas in our lives. And while I do not have any idea how you're feeling right now, I fervently wish and pray that today, you would find a reason to smile, even if among life's simplest things.

Merry Christmas to all! ^_^

Caviteñas Incorporated

Tuesday night saw me getting semi-boozed (LOL! Is there even such a term as 'semi-boozed'???) and getting cozy with my girls from high school for a mini Christmas-party-slash-reunion-slash-booze-night. Unfortunately, my tonsillitis couldn’t wait until my social affairs for the holidays were over, so what was I to do but to stay away from the tempting chocolate cake and ice cream, and just burn the throat ache away with… err, vodka. Sounds like a plan, eh? ^_^

We were quite a team back then – boy band fanatics, boy-crazy teenyboppers, school bus bullies, occasional emotional retards, food trip and gimik buddies, die-hard Spice Girls wannabes, drama queens, and the list goes on and on. But most importantly, we were good friends. And while it’s been almost ten years since our foursome got together after we graduated from high school, it was as if time stood still for us. Fast forward to present, Suey now runs her own shirt printing biz, Reah keeps herself fit by strutting herself during pole dancing, while Sandy and I have had our fair share of the corporate world. It’s been years, but there was never that awkward moment. The minute I walked over to where they were over at Sandy’s veranda, I was instantly immersed in deep gossip, laughter, LOTS of vodka, and – of course – photo ops with my girls.

Us Girls: (from left to right) Sandy, Reah, Moi, and Suey

Last time I checked, Suey’s gonna go on a Hong Kong – Macau trip next month, with Reah tagging along, I think. Sandy, on the other hand, was still a bit unsure but I hope she goes for it coz Hong Kong is one city in Asia I fell in love with. I wish I could go along, but looking at things that need to be accomplished at work by first quarter of next year, a pleasure trip outside the country for the next couple of months may very well be out of the question.

*sigh*

It's only been days, but I miss my girls already. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention that my mom and tita Rose (Sandy's mom) did a little catching up of their own over soda and dark chocolate cake. From the looks of it, seemed like they missed each other as well! ^_^ And finally, a little trivia: as far as love life is concerned, Beyonce's Single Ladies might just be the theme song of our crew. And I bet by now you already got what I'm trying to say here. *wink*

Cheers to high school, good friends, and vodka! ^_^

My Monday Cup

“So Sally can wait, she knows it's too late as we're walking on by
Her soul slides away, but don't look back in anger
I heard you say…” - Don’t Look Back In Anger (performed by Oasis)

“I’m on the top of the world lookin’ down on creation
And the only explanation I can find
Is the love that I’ve found ever since you’ve been around
Your love’s put me at the top of the world…” - Top Of The World (performed by Carpenters)


Thank you for making my morning. :)

What can I say? Just when I thought it would be another boring Monday morning at work, your invitation for coffee was just the thing I needed to perk up my day and practically my whole week, for that matter.

More than just the soothing effect of Cinnamon-Swirl-and-Iced-White-Chocolate-Mocha combo, it was the rare privilege of having you sing a line or two from two of your favorite songs that made it all memorable. I know I can be a handful of makulit, but still you gave in to my prodding and the next thing I knew, you were singing the familiar lyrics of the song. (Hmmm... I wonder if that was just the caffeine kicking in your system?) Too bad we had to go back so soon. Still, an hour spent was more than enough to keep that smile on my face.

*sigh*

I'm already looking forward to our next cup. :)

Happy Monday to everyone!

When Good Friends Meet

It's been quite some time since our trio - Mike, Cassey, and I - got together, not since the demise of our Palawan trip a couple of months passed. A lot happened since then, so today we're gonna meet up to celebrate Mike's promotion over good food and kwentuhan galore! ^_^

News of the day: I was, like, 45 minutes late from the original call time of 3 p.m. at Greenbelt 3! But since I had to commute all the way from Cavite, I have all the excuses in the world, right? Honestly, it kinda feels refreshing not to be the early bird for once. Haha! But seriously, I was starving by the time I caught up with them that all I was able to blurt out was “Hi! Gutom na ‘ko!” How’s that for greeting a friend you haven’t seen in a while? LOL!

As per Mike’s suggestion, we headed to Greenbelt 5 to try out Fely J’s, one of the many restaurants from LJC’s restaurant chains. (Think: Abe, Café Adriatico, and Café Havana, among others.) We ordered Lamb Kaldereta and Stir-Fried Broccoli with Chicken Mushroom. Of course, our experience with Fely J’s would not be complete without desserts, so we ordered Sikreto Ni Maria Clara (Glutinous rice and sliced ripe mangoes covered with half-melted vanilla ice cream), Claude’s Dream (Fresh buko strips on macapuno ice cream with pandan jelly), and Tequila Chocolate Mousse Cake which, by far, was a winner for all three of us. You can just never go wrong mixing tequila and chocolate – two of the bestest things in the world! ^_^

The Fely J's Experience (Photo credits: Cassey)

After Fely J’s, we dropped by Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf in Greenbelt to have coffee. By this time, Mike was only physically present because of serious lack of sleep. Poor Mike! We stayed for a good deal of another hour before we parted ways going home. True, time spent was a bit short and kinda bitin, nevertheless Mike’s level of humor is always on all-time high even if his entire system was shouting for sleep. I hope the next time that our trio gets to hang out like this would be soon. From the looks of it, 2010 will kick off with a lot of changes as far as my work is concerned. That is, if plans will push through. I’d better brush up on my time management skills, then. That way, there will be more meet-ups like this for our trio. ^_^

I missed posing with these two crazy wacky people! ^_^ (Photo credits: Cassey)

Wanted: Fashionistas

Last Saturday saw me attending the CTOM (CHARTIS Technology and Operations Management) Integration Party turned Christmas Party at the Grand Ballroom of Sofitel in Manila. The theme was “Fashionista” and, as expected, some dressed to impress while others preferred to dress down and keep a low profile, but one thing’s for sure – it was a fun night, not bad for my first Christmas party with the company. ^_^

I arrived at the venue a little past six in the evening, but instead of heading straight to the venue, I went up to room no. 308 where Gail and the rest of the PSG dance crew were doing their hair and makeup in prep for the evening’s festivities. For a room that was originally intended for two, there must’ve been 20 or more of us there, so one can only imagine how crowded it was. It was already 7:30 p.m. when we went down to register for the raffle, pose for a couple more photo ops, and do some meet-and-greet with the rest of the CTOM peeps.

Posing with the crew in high "fashion" ^_^ (Photo credits: Tony Alonzo)

There were two sides to the ballroom – one for the CTOM BPO Division and another for the IT Division where we were. A little halfway through the program, I slipped over to the BPO Division side to greet a college friend who was part of the Lexington group – Gella. Good thing Eric Bauzon happened to pass by so Gella and I had our pictures taken together.

Me and some of the Lexington crew (Photo credits: Eric Bauzon)

There were a couple of band performances, and dance numbers prepared by IT (which included Gail and co.) and BPO as well. There was also a contest for the night’s best dressed male and female, where the chosen few got to strut their stuff ala catwalk. Afterwards, the dance floor was opened, and most of us were on our feet grooving to the band’s music. I think the free-flowing drinks helped as well to set the party mood.

CTOM's got talent! (Photo credits: Eric Bauzon and Tony Alonzo)

"Fashionistas" in the house... (Photo credits: Tony Alonzo)

Party people... YEAH!!! ^_^ (Photo credits: Eric Bauzon)

There were a couple of minor and major prizes given away for the night. I was among the lucky ones who won PhP 1,500 in cash. The major prizes included a trip to Boracay for 2, and grand prize was a trip to US. Cool, huh? But a thousand bucks is still a thousand bucks, so I’m already thankful for the prize I won.

:) (Photo Credits: Simi)

See you on next year's party... :) (Photo credits: Eric Bauzon)

The festivities ended around past 12 midnight, but most of the people were still ecstatic and in high spirits even after the event. I arrived home around two in the morning, but I think I was able to sleep around 3 a.m. It was a fun night, I met a couple of interesting people, and the crowd was great. In fact, I’m already looking forward to next year’s theme.

Weekend Song

"What will it take to make or break this hint of love? Only time, only time..." -Owl City

It all started with Fireflies.

Now, after doing a bit of research on the group and the roots of their music, I am now officially an Owl City convert! And mind you, I'm not just a fan of the group itself, but I am so, shall I say, enthralled by Adam Young's genius behind every words in their songs. (FYI: Adam Young is Owl City's front man and songwriter.) I've downloaded all three albums and so far, I'm liking every song in it. For real! I used to be not so much into the electronic genre, but I'm definitely making an exception for this one. A friend, to whom I shared the Owl City madness with, once said that he was "dumbfounded" by the artist. I know that most of you would think that using words such as "enthralled" and "dumbfounded" may be too much of an overreaction, but I guess everyone's entitled to whatever ticks his or her passion for something, right? :)

So now I'm sharing my so-called weekend song - this has got to be my ultimate fave apart from the other excellent songs in the album. I've been playing this song over and over for the nth time and never seem to tire of hearing it's relaxed vibe and meaningful lyrics. It's the kind of song that makes me think of the beach, the sun, and quality fun time with anyone who's willing to indulge with me. The title of the song is The Saltwater Room (New Version) from their 2009 album Ocean Eyes.

Lyrics:

I opened my eyes last night and saw you in the low light
Walking down by the bay on the shore
Staring up at the stars that aren't there anymore
I was feeling the night grow old and you were looking so cold
So like an introvert, I dreaw my over shirt
Around my arms and began to shiver violently
Before you happened to look and see the tunnels all around me
Running into the dark underground
All the subways around create a great sound
To my motion fatigue: farewell
With your ear to a seashell
You can hear the waves in underwater caves
As if you actually were inside a saltwater room

Time together isn't ever quite enough
When you and I are alone, I've never felt so at home
What will it take to make or break this hint of love?
Only time, only time.

Can you believe that the crew has gone?
And they wouldn't let me sign on
All my islands have sunk in the deep,
And I can hardly relax or even oversleep
When I feel warm with your hand in mine
When we walk along the shoreline
I guess we'll never know why sparrows love the snow
We'll turn out all of the lights and set this ballroom aglow

So tell me darlin', do you wish we'd fall in love?
Yeah, all the time
All the time

Time together isn't ever quite enough
When you and I are alone, I've never felt so at home
What will it take to make or break this hint of love?
Only time, only time
When we're apart what ever are you thinking of?
If this is what I call home, why does it feel so alone?
So tell me darling, do you wish we'd fall in love?
All the time, all the time

Time together isn't ever quite enough
When we're apart what ever are you thinking of?
What will it take to make or break this hint of love?
So tell me darling, do you wish we'd fall in love?
All the time
Oh, all the time

PS: The name 'Owl City' was actually taken from Adam Young's hometown in Owatonna, Minnesota, and that most of Young's compositions were the results of his insomnia. Cool!

^_^

3-In-1

It’s been a while since I’ve posted a movie review in my blog. Not that I haven’t been active in the movie scene lately; it’s just that I’m so tamad to post reviews plus I’ve also been busy lately with work. But since it’s a Saturday and I’ve nothing to do save for killing time before the CHARTIS Christmas party which, by the way, does not commence until six in the evening tonight, I’m posting a 3-in-1 movie review of some of the flicks I’ve seen recently, raving about it or otherwise. After all, I’m not a self-confessed movie buff for nothing, you know! *wink*

2012

Okay, this was one movie that got my senses awake and alert... quite literally! Seriously, it kinda reminds me of the movie Armageddon with the end-of-the-world-is-near-and-there-is-not-much-we-can-do theme, except that instead of rugged Bruce Willis you get semi-nerdy-and-sometimes-clumsy John Cusack. Oh, and in 2012, the world came to an end from its insides rather than waiting for some humungous chunk of space metal threatening to hit Earth smack in the atmosphere but then gets blown up in space anyway. But seriously, I found myself exhausted after watching the movie. Exhausted because throughout the movie I never stopped hoping that towards the end, it may not seem too hopeless at all for mankind; exhausted because I couldn’t help but cry for the human drama that’s being depicted in the movie; and exhausted after having watched John Cusack and his family try to outrun and survive extinction that literally kept me at the edge of my seat inside the theatre. In terms of visual and special effects, it’s a two thumbs-up!!! Truly, it’s one hell of an eye opener that got me thinking however on Earth will I be able to come up with a couple of billion Euros to buy myself a seat on some 21st century Noah’s Ark? Seriously. (PS: That voice-controlled car was cool, too! ^_^)

New Moon

I still stand by what I said about the book – way too teenybopper to the ranks of Sweet Valley fiction. As for the movie, well, New Moon is an obvious improvement of its predecessor. But as far as the actors were concerned, the only notable level-up is that of Jacob’s character. (After all, New Moon is technically Jacob’s intro into the limelight.) As for the rest of the crew, Rob Pattinson’s acting is still so-so, and Kirsten still could do a lot more on her facial expressions. Still, it wasn’t so bad, and I’d prefer the Twilight movies over the books ANYTIME!!! But Harry Potter over Twilight? Erhmm… a no-brainer!

Ninja Assassin

This has got to be one of the BLOODIEST movie created. Ever. I can’t help but compare Ninja Assassin to Kill Bill, except that the latter has got more class, intrigue, and killer moves. (Uma Thurman simply rocks with that samurai!)As for Ninja Assassin, I think the movie was a bit overrated, the theatrical trailer was a bit deceiving, and it lacked substance to complement all the violence. As for Rain, no offense to all Rain fans out there, but the dude’s got a huge room for improvement in terms of acting. I mean, it’s never enough that he’s got killer abs – he’s got to brush up on his acting as well. But that’s as far as my opinion goes. Overall, Ninja Assassin would be the kind of movie I’d prefer to watch on home video just so that I can save on movie tickets and popcorn.

Well, it’s quite a long post, eh? 2009 ain’t over yet, so there are still a couple of promising movies I’d like to see before the year closes. I haven’t watched any local movies lately, and I’ve yet to decide if there’s any movie in the upcoming MMFF (Metro Manila Film Festival) which I’m gonna see on the big screen. Oh well, let's see... :)

Wishful

It's this time of the year when I would often ask myself what I'd want for Christmas. Of course, I'll be honest to say that a LOT of things pop into my mind - material things, that is. Let me see, there are shoes, bags, a brand-new notebook, spanking new set of prime lens for my cam, trips across Asia... and the list goes on and on. But now that I [seriously] think about it, there's just one thing I'd like to receive this year. Actually, ‘happen’ might be a more apt word for it. Call it cheesy and a bit of a hopeless romantic, but I just want my music man to play a song on his guitar for me. There. I've said it; now laugh at my cheesy-ness all you want. Quite frankly, I can't help but laugh a little at myself. LOL! :)

But seriously, I know that the friendship we were able to establish was more of a blessing disguised underneath what seemed to be pure chance. He and his faith in God have been helping me see things around me in a more positive light. And yes, for some reason music seemed to have become our bridge to get to the kind of friendship we have now. But truth be told, we did have our, err, shall I say "awkward moments"? Haha! Maybe because on the outside we're quite a contrast - he's shy and quiet while I'm a bit of an extrovert; he's dressed up in a way that many would call "lousy" and a bit "geeky", while I go for happy colors and prints. But after spending one breakfast together, I realized that he's got a LOT of sensible stuff to share, and that we have a lot more things in common than I ever thought. In short, we clicked! :)

So there. That's as much history which I'm gonna share. Now I'm just so thankful that we're good friends - my occasional lunch-slash-breakfast buddy, a friend, a music lover. My music man. And if ever there's a quota in heaven as to how much of a good thing you could wish for, I'd say that to have him play on his beloved guitar for me would be just a most generous bonus, because having him in my life as a friend is a blessing itself from God.

Oh boy, can't wait for Christmas!!! ^_^

Inspirational

I would just like to share a song which helped lift my spirits when I woke up one morning with a heavy heart.

A heavy heart. It’s that feeling when there seems to be nothing wrong with my physical state, yet somehow it was as if nothing in the world could make me smile that day, let alone be even just the tiniest bit optimistic, because something has happened that’s taking its toll on my emotional state.

And that’s when he helped me – my music man – to be my upbeat self again. Well, it’s not like he really did physically helped me. All he did was to email me a song which, according to him, he hoped to lift up my heavy heart. It was a Christian song, and he said I should just give it a try. And I did. Apparently, music can really do wonders, for every word in the song hit me smack in the face and one round of listening was enough to give me that warm feeling I’ve been missing for days and make me smile again.

Oh, and why do I call him my music man? Well, apart from the fact that I’m not gonna say who he is, I’m also keeping the reason to my little self. But all I can say is that he’s someone who’s been helping me keep a happy disposition in spite of it all.

Anyway, I’m sharing the lyrics of the song for those who would care to listen and ponder, just in case. I hope you would like it as much as I did. Enjoy! :)


Call On Jesus (performed by Nicole C. Mullen)

Verse 1:
I'm so very ordinary, nothing special on my own.
Oh, I have never walked on water,
And I have never calmed a storm.
Sometimes I'm hiding away from the madness around me
Like a child who's afraid of the dark

Chorus:
But when I call on Jesus,
All things are possible
I can mount on wings like eagles' and soar
When I call on Jesus,
Mountains are gonna fall
'Cause He'll move heaven and earth to come rescue me when I call

La la la la la, la la la la la

Verse 2:
Weary brother, broken daughter,
Widowed, Widowed lover you're not alone
If you're tired and scared of the madness around you
If you can't find the strength to carry on

Chorus:
When you call on Jesus,
All things are possible
You can mount on wings like eagles' and soar
When you call on Jesus,
Mountains are gonna fall
'Cause He'll move heaven and earth to come rescue you when you--

Bridge:
Call Him in the morning', in the afternoon time
Late in the evening' He'll be there
When your heart is broken,
And you feel discouraged,
You can just remember that He said
He'll be there

Chorus (2x):
When I call on Jesus,
All things are possible
I can mount on wings like eagles' and soar
When I call on Jesus,
Mountains are gonna fall
'Cause He'll move heaven and earth to come rescue me (back to top first time, 2nd time finish with "when I call")

La la la la la, la la la la la, la la la la la-a-a

Let Me Tell You A Story...

So it's the time of the year when people - young and old - would enjoy scaring themselves and others silly simply because, hey, it's Halloween!

Seems like these days, everyone's got a ghost story or two to share - from the classic white lady sighted along college halls and corridors, to so-called "haunted" houses where suicides and untimely tragedies have occurred. Oh, and there are also the headless spirits, demonic possessions, and the more old-fashioned tales of aswangs and engkantos from far-off provinces, as told by our elders. Yup, it's such a rich blend of folklore that we Pinoys have got, don't you think?

A decade ago, there was a girl in her senior year in high school who joined the class retreat to a province somewhere up north of the country. Theirs was a Catholic all-girls school, and the venue of the retreat was being run by nuns of the school's congregation. Now this girl was skeptic - she didn't think ghosts exist let alone white ladies and the like. "Sige nga, tingnan natin kung meron nga talagang white lady..." were her exact words when their class arrived at the retreat house. Little did she know that she would get far more than she bargained for.

The class was supposed to spend three nights in the place, and on their second night, a spiritual sharing was happening in one of the halls. One of her classmates was crying hysterically because of some family problems which she shared to the class, so the girl was requested to get a glass of water from the refectory, which was at the other end of a long hallway. When she got out of the hall, she realized that the lights have been turned off to conserve energy and that it was raining pretty hard outside. A typical horror movie setting, eh? Nevertheless she kept her cool and started the long walk down the hallway leading to the refectory. She wasn't even halfway when her eye caught something to her left and when she turned to look, there was someone sitting at the bottom of the stairs leading to the girls' dormitory. It was pretty dark, but a hint of light from the lightning outside distinctly highlighted an image of a girl with long hair, dressed in white but somehow it was as if a shadow hid the entirety of her face. What's more troubling was that she was pretty sure that the person’s head was turned to her direction as if it was watching her every move. And so without any delay, the girl quickened her steps and for some reason, the hallway seemed to stretch longer than usual. She never looked back, dismissing the eerie feeling she had at her nape and the uncomfortable flutter of her heartbeat. One can only imagine the relief she felt when she reached the warm lights of the refectory. Only one problem now: she had to make the trip back to the hall. Great! Somehow the girl had the feeling that whatever she saw earlier was still out there, and she was right. As she reached the bottom of the stairs, she nearly dropped the glass filled with water, because the "white lady" was now on its feet and was looking at her. The girl dared not turn her head, but at the corner of her eye she knew that it was looking at her direction. She still couldn't see its face, and she was clutching on the glass of water so hard that her knuckles nearly turned white. Oh, and it's true when they say that your knees will turn up like jelly; the girl barely made it through because her knees were shaking. When she got back to the hall after what seemed like an eternity, almost everyone commented how pale she looked and asked if she was alright. All she could muster was a weak smile and she was quiet the entire night. In fact, she was quiet throughout the remaining days of the retreat, and she dared not walk along that dark hallway alone ever again.

Ten years has passed since that unforgettable night, and even until now the girl couldn't help but recall the eerie feeling whenever she recounts her experience. Somehow she felt as if that incident changed a part of her forever. She still gets goosebumps whenever the image of the "white lady" would unwillingly flash in her mind. Until now, she can't recall how it exactly looked like, because she never got to see its face. I just never did.

Happy Halloween! :)

The Catch-Up Series 3/3: Mom @ 64

Okay, this is one overdue post for my catch-up series: mum's birthday, that is. Now, as ashamed as I am to admit it, the past birthdays of my mom saw me barely struggling with my financial, err, condition. It was only this year that I was able to have a little more than what I'd spend for myself until the next paycheck so I thought mom's 64th birthday had to be special. Simple, yet special.

The day kicked off just like any other mornings, save for the birthday greetings from me, dad, and my cousin. It was breakfast as usual, and then after a few hours to spend checking Facebook and other online stuff, I got ready to join my family for lunch at Serendra. Pick of the day was Abe, a member restaurant from the LJC Restaurant Chains (Think: Café Adriatico and Café Havana.). Now, I've read mixed reviews of the place so I decided to try it out with my family. Also, it boasted of Kapampangan dishes which my Cabalen mom obviously loves just as much as my dad has grown fond of everything Kapampangan, even if his roots hail from Cavite. Anyway, so the place was pretty crowded when we got there a little past the quarter of 12, but we were lucky to score seats in less than five minutes. Browsing through their menu, I immediately scanned for Bringhe (Kapampangan version of Paella) and Betute (Dressed frog stuffed with minced frog meat). Looking at what they had to offer, I thought to myself, "Yup, Kapampangan nga...". We settled for Bringhe, Betute, Pesang Dalag, Balo-Balo (fermented rice with fish or freshwater shrimp), Sugpo Sa Gata, and Watermelon Sharbat for me. My parents opted for the much simpler lemonade.

My initial impression was that although there were obvious efforts to make the place seem cozy (like putting up a memorabilia corner and old photographs on the walls), the atmosphere reminded me of the old-fashioned panciterias in Manila from good old days of my childhood – it was noisy and overcrowded, lacked ample lighting, and service wasn’t that noteworthy. Good thing it didn’t take long for our food to arrive and, yes, I was right not to have set very high expectations of the place. The food was okay, I guess, but nothing too memorable; the bringhe was dry and somehow the chicken liver did not complement with the idea of glutinous rice in coconut milk; and I wished there were more vegetables in our Pesang Dalag. The betute was good and delicious, and the Watermelon Sharbat came as something of a surprise – I never thought watermelon shake and ginger would go together. Sure, it tasted a little different BUT it was good and I loved it! Mom loved her Balo-Balo, by the way. As for dad, well, he just practically ate whatever was served on the table. The bill was pretty much reasonable, but I don’t think I’ll be dropping by this place again for a long time. Nevertheless, we were all full when lunch ended, and a good walk along High Street was in order for some window shopping and coffee at Figaro. Oh, and before heading home, we dropped by Sonja’s for some cupcakes to bring on-the-go. (My, my! Sonja’s flourless chocolate cupcakes were such a treat! YUMMY!)

The Abe Experience

Coffee, anyone? :)

Little did mom know, there was still a mini-surprise waiting for her at home. There was a Mango Cake waiting, plus it was time to open her present, which I bought the other day. Let’s just say that the gift she got was just perfect for someone who has a delicate culinary taste! ^_^

Delicious Low-Sugar Mango Cake

Culinary Bestsellers For Mom :)

It was nice to see my mom smile the whole day. I swear, she just couldn’t wipe that grin off her face! Haha! Somehow it gives me a warm feeling, and I knew I made her birthday pretty special. And for the record, it was my parents’ first time in Serendra and Boni High Street, and judging from their impression of the place, it’s something they could very much get used to. ^_^

The Catch-Up Series 2/3: The "Instant Ewww"

I've been meaning to post this excerpt for quite some time now... quite interesting from both sexes' point of view, if you ask me. :)

THE "INSTANT EWWW"

I'm always fascinated by the idea that we humans don't always understand the message that we're communicating to others...

So often we think that because we WANT to communicate a message that others are going to NATURALLY understand what we're trying to say.

Have you ever seen a guy in a foreign car that has wheels on it that cost more than the car itself... with his stereo blasting... and a muffler that somehow AMPLIFIES the raw sound of the 4-cylinder motor...?

Have you ever thought to yourself "I don't think that car is communicating the message to women that he thinks it is"...?

Yeah I have, too.

Well here's the deal:

If you do something to "let a woman know how you feel"... but she isn't ATTRACTED to you, then it's going to backfire.

It's going to trigger a feeling that like to call the "Instant Ewww".

The Instant Ewww is just as powerful as the physical and emotional response of ATTRACTION.

Once a woman feels it, YOU'RE DONE. It's over.

It's like hammering a RAILROAD SPIKE into the coffin.

Once a woman feels the Instant Ewww, she will start behaving differently.

In short, she'll disappear.

So where did I get the concept of the "Instant Ewww"?

I got it from WOMEN.

I have actually heard SEVERAL women use the word "Ewww" when describing how they felt about a guy that was "confessing his love"... of course, these were guys that weren't loved in return.

So what causes the Instant Ewww?

And why would a woman feel it towards a man who was trying to be nice... a guy who was giving her a gift or telling her how he feels?

Because if you think about it from HER perspective, you'll realize that the moment a you do something to "confess", you have created a TURNING POINT in the relationship.

Up until that point, you were harmless.

I mean, women always know how men feel.

She already knew you wanted her.

She knew it from the beginning.

But now that you've started pursuing her and talking about how you feel, you've created a NEGATIVE TENSION that is VERY uncomfortable. You've triggered an emotion that is repulsive to women. And it does repel them.

In summary...

You can't "make a woman like you" or "change how she feels about you" by doing nice things for her...

Doing "nice" things for a woman who isn't attracted to you HURTS you. It backfires. Worse, it creates the "Instant Ewww" feeling that makes it so she'll NEVER like you.

Men make this mistake over and over again in life because they're doing what MAKES SENSE to them. They're doing it because they don't have an understanding of ATTRACTION. I mean, If you have a friend, and you like them, and you want to make them like you more... and you do some nice thing for them, they will probably like you more.

On the other hand...

If you have a woman that you "like" in a romantic way, and she doesn't "feel it" for you, and you do something nice for her because you want HER to like you more, it will BACKFIRE... and she will not only NOT like you more, she will most likely distance herself from you.

Guys think that they need to communicate when they like a woman... as if that's part of the necessary process of getting a girl. In their minds, it goes like this:

Like her > Tell her you like her > She likes you

Well remember... if you follow this pattern yourself with women who aren't ATTRACTED to you, then it's going to BACKFIRE.

If she's not into you, then it goes like THIS:

She thinks of you as a friend > You tell her you like her > She gets the "Instant Ewwws" and never wants to be around you again...


Excerpts from David Deangelo

The Catch-Up Series 1/3: Stranded

Quite literally, actually.

Well, you all know how the typhoon Ondoy has left its mark in the lives of Filipinos, especially those within the vicinity of Northen and Western Manila, right? And while my family didn't suffer a life-altering ordeal as those who have lost their loved ones, properties, and livestock over the raging floods, I also have quite an Ondoy story to tell.

So where were we when typhoon Ondoy lashed it's fury at this part of the country? Well, we were in SM Mall of Asia for a little celebration because, after 60 days of making financial ends meet by Herculean efforts, my so-called "Broke Days" were over and bills and other liabilities have been finally settled. So off we drove over at MOA in spite of the rain, since we were quite used to tripsaiding the mall even on a rainy weekend. We arrived only a couple of minutes befopre store opening, so I decided to get some long-overdue hair makeover. Read: HAIR REBONDING. Spent a little more than three friggin' hours at the salon and when I'm finally done, I just can't help feeling gtood about myself. What can I say? A salon treat just never disappoints for a girl. We were within the confines of the mall that time, so we were oblivious to the strong winds and heavy rains lashing outdoors. We decided to have lunch at China Palace (A really good chow: BIG servings and really good peking duck.) and then see Surrogates starring Bruce Willis (The plot was lame, nothing too noteworthy about the overallproduction, plus I'd still rather see Willis in a more realistic hardcore action flick like his Die Hard series.) After the movie, we noticed that the shops and boutiques were closing as early as 6:00 p.m. due to the typhoon, so we opted to just go home.

Little did we know that the roads leading home - Coastal Road and Aguinaldo Highway - weren't passable to light and heavy vehicles due to flood that was said to be more that 6 feet high. (Which is way past my own height, thank you very much.) So we had no choice but to park the car in McDonald's along Diosdado Macapagal Highway where we spent the whole night, along with many other motorists who, like us, were stranded as well. All I can say that time was "Thank God for fast food and take-out food!" I can only imagine how uncomfortable the situation must have been for my parents, but I was surprised that they were pretty much optimistic throughout the whole situation. It was as if there was a mini street party along that side of Macapagal Highway, for the people were busy eating the night away if they weren't discussing among themselves in the middle of the deserted road or sleeping in their respective vehicles. Man, it was truly quite an unforgettable experience!

The next day, we were able to finally reach home sometime around 7:30 a.m., and though we were too thankful that we were able to reach home safely, I was saddened bacause a lot of people weren't as lucky. As I watched the news, I see people in aguish or even in state of shock to have lost their loved ones, properties, and livestock. I can only do so much as to pray for them that they may have the stregth and will to carry on the cross that's God's will. I also raided our closets for unused clothes and blankets which I gave out to institutions accepting donations and relief goods. There's no better time to show how we care for our fellow Filipinos than a time like this.

God bless the Philippines!

The Catch-Up Series: Intro

Okay, so I'm so guilty of being too lazy to post anything on this blog. My fault. That's why I came up with these so-called Catch-Up Series, which will be like two or three posts from past events that have transpired a couple of weeks ago, only I never had enough will to post in on my blog. Sorry na.

Between Ho-Hum And Nuninuninu...

Okay, so I’ve been way too lazy to post anything on this blog but can you blame me? Hahaha, not that I’m complaining or anything, but waking up so early for work five days a week takes its toll on my senses as early as mid- afternoons of the day. Plus, not that there’s many catching up to do because, frankly speaking, my life is pretty much still plain and boring (and sometimes way too comedic and silly) despite some, err, distractions on the side. (And no, I’m not gonna elaborate on those so-called distractions, however pleasantly distracting they are.)

So how did the past weeks go by? Well, the fun part of it was meeting a new friend who was sojourning Southeast Asia for a couple of weeks all the way from Canada – Wil. Now, detailing how we met was pretty simple: we had a common friend – Cassey – and the rest was history. Now don’t even get me started on how he and Cassey even met because it’s a bit of an unusual circumstance that’s up to Cassey to, uhh, expound[?]. I was only able to meet him a couple of times over lunch and dinners with my girl, but I was able to pick up more than a thing or two from the dude, including how I finally got to drool over his 50mm f/1.4 lens which I'm still lusting for up to this very moment. Seriously. Hahaha! Oh, the dude is a male version of a shopping whore, and he’s loud and proud about it! No wonder he and Cassey can talk shopping all day long. They’re such kindred! As for me, I’m thankful for the guy’s generosity, treating us for good food and even taking care of my ride home all the way to the South during one of those dinners when I’d stay a little late than usual at this side of the Metro. Really Wil, many thanks and I’m gonna miss you when you fly back to Canada within the week. Thank God for Facebook, we can keep in-touch and probably in five months’ time I’d be able to post the thank-you wall post you deserve. Hopefully. *wink* As for Cassey, kudos to her choice of gastronomy that had us exerting twice the effort on our diet/workout routine after.

Bonding moments with Wil over good food and lots of kwentos... :) (Pics taken from Cassey's blog here)

Oh, and speaking of good food, I sorely miss food tripping. I’m still broke, so I don't have much liberty to scour the Metro for some infamous gastronomic treat BUT I’m crossing my fingers that this is the last week that my financial pocket endures a big hole and by next week, everything SHOULD BE back to normal. SHOULD.BE. ^_^

So there. The rest of the days are just a bunch of ho-hums and Zzzz… except when… oh, never mind! Hahaha… anyways, can anyone suggest a good movie worth watching? I think I’m in dire need of some good old movie treat over popcorn and soda. ^_^

Unwavered

I rarely write about basketball or any other sport, for that matter, simply because I don't share the enthusiasm and passion as much as some of my friends from both sexes do. But after the sad news about how the DLSU Green Archers lost to the NU Bulldogs in a critical game that will determine if the Archers stay alive for the rest of Season 72 of UAAP, 61-63, I felt compelled to share my perspective after an untimely respite for the boys in green and white.

Ever since the 72nd season of the UAAP kicked off, I've always been pretty rational as to how I perceived this season shall unfold for the Archers. In short, I kept my hopes at a reasonable level and braced myself for the rough ride that was sure to come for our boys. And I was right. As I was telling Vic, a good friend and a die-hard Gang Green member, I'm not too hopeful for this season and that there will be hard-learned lessons along the way. But even if my hopes weren't at their all-time high, my faith in the team never wavered - faith that while the team is back to square one, every victory and loss shall mold the players into champions-in-the-making.

*sigh*

And so the Thursday’s game decided that, for now, the Green Archers will have to take the backseat for the rest of the season. But rather than dampen my spirits, I was all the more excited and already looking forward to Season 73 when the people from that part of Taft Avenue shall surely have their vengeance. WE SHALL HAVE OUR VENGEANCE. As for our boys, their time will soon come when they will share in the glory and triumphs of the men before them. All it takes is faith. I, for one, am keeping that faith. See you in Season 73!

ANIMO LA SALLE!!!

The 3:30 Habit

Let's face it: no matter how much we're used to waking up early during workweek mornings, the thought of having to trade the comfort of your bed with having to get up and brush your teeth is never a pleasant one. And I, being on a new 7:30 a.m. work shift, should know.

These days, the situation of Cavite traffic has deteriorated to that point where leaving the house around 5:30 in the morning no longer guarantees that you'll still be able to catch the morning shuttle going to work, especially if you're working in Makati like me. Your two alternatives: 1) the super crowded bus, and 2) spend the next two hours in queue for the next shuttle that will be coming back from Makati. Either way, you'd still have to deal with the dreadful northbound traffic. As pitiful as it may sound, it's become a way of life for me and many others. That's why I was forced to develop a new habit - the 3:30 habit, that is. It's quite simple: I set my alarm at 3:30 a.m., haggle for a couple more 15 minutes before parting with my beloved bed, and then leave the house around 5:15 a.m. I usually arrive in Makati around 6:20 a.m. or latest by 6:45 a.m. Pretty simple BUT it entails a Herculean effort to accomplish on a day-to-day basis. So far, I was successful in carrying it out for two consecutive weeks. So I guess there goes one hurrah for me! ^_^

Honestly, arriving at work earlier than 7:00 a.m. may seem ungodly for most people, but it does have its perks, too. The city walkways are not yet crowded with the rest of the busy working class, Manila-bound travel takes only about 45 minutes top, and you get to relish the city as it eventually wakes up to its usual hustle-and-bustle self. It could be a simple treat for the sentimental, but a torture it is to those who are sleep-deprived. I guess you might say I'm a bit of both. And no, I'll never get used to waking up on early mornings BUT I do appreciate the simple perks of being an early bird in the big city. Wish me luck in keeping up with habit. My paycheck is counting on it. Haha! Kidding!

Foundations

It seems only like a couple of months ago when we were a bunch of classmates attending our basic photography workshop in Fort Santiago. Today, we just formally drafted the official name of our founding camera club - The Visionaries Camera Club. Naks! ^_^

Call time was supposed to be nine in the morning, but since I was feeling a lot more lazy than usual, I arrived around 9:35 a.m. at McDonald's in Greenbelt 1. We were already a company of seven that time; too bad Fatz came down with fever and couldn't make it, while our other batchmates couldn't make it as well due to variour personal reasons. Nevertheless our crew was still able to accomplish much - from plotting group activities until yearend and finalizing the founding provisions of the club, to coming up with our very own club name and logo. As for doing a press release for our club logo, I won't be pre-empting anything yet, because some minor details are still being finalized. Stay tuned, though; the next time I blog about our camera club we'll have set up our own site, complete with our official logo, by then. ^_^

The Founding Members... naks!!! :P

(Shot by Marlon Naboa; thanks to Ruth Tubon-Spence for uploading the pics in our Multiply site

Thanks to Maan for taking the initiative in organizing the very first GA for the group, the times we spent together and the learnings we acquired during the workshop and afterwards will go a long way. And, hopefully, so does the bond we have as a team. ^_^

A La-Z Saturday Movie

I missed going to the movies!!!

Okay, maybe I'm just a little bit exaggerating with my unnecessary use of too many exclamation points, but still...

It's the first time in many Saturdays that waking up in the morning truly feels like a weekend - an idle feeling that lets me lounge around the dining table after a leisurely breakfast of scrambled eggs and pancakes. Mmmm... I love it! ^_^

Originally, I intended to indulge in a video fest the whole day since I've nothing much to do, not with an empty pocket, at least. Haha! But since dad wanted to catch G.I. Joe on the big screen (Plus I've been getting rave reviews from friends who've seen it.) so I tagged along for a movie treat from dad, in La-Z-Boy fashion! Yey!

Three things: 1) action (A hell LOT of it!), 2) love story (Which I thought was a bit of a cliché but with appeal.), and 3) Channing Tatum (He's H-O-T even with that fake scar on his face! ^_^ ). So yeah, it was one kick-ass movie even if my guy friends tell me it steered away from the original G.I. Joe storyline. See, I never really followed the cartoon from way back. But as far as my being a moviegoer was concerned, it was a good movie that well worth the ticket and popcorn.

G.I. Joe Movie Poster

So there. Me and my cuzin are currently watching Watchmen as I’m posting this entry. Tomorrow I’ll be meeting up with friends from FPPF Batch 9 over coffee and probably lunch as well. But that’s for another entry. I guess I’ll end this blog right here so I can concentrate more on the movie. Enjoy the rest of the weekend, everyone! :)

Ta Ta

This week’s Friday is my last day with SMART, and for some reason I don’t feel a bit sad about it. Maybe because this was what I’ve been wanting all along – to move out, spread my wings, and breathe. Figuratively speaking.

I can’t help but compare the feeling back when I left the first company I work for after college. The moment I tendered my resignation to my former boss, I instantly felt a tinge of sadness with the realization that I’ll be leaving a lot of good things behind. Aside from the phone-and-headset combo that allowed me to multitask during virtual meetings, a month’s supply of meal tickets worth PhP 50.00, the air conditioned shuttle that took us to and from work, and the ergonomic chair, there were the memories of good times (and otherwise) with people who – in some way or the other – have made their mark in my life. From friends, ex-boyfriends, colleagues, and bosses – it felt as if I never really left even after a couple of months (or years even) following my resignation.

Fast forward to the present, and now I’m about to draft the farewell email that’s almost like a tradition whenever an employee separates from a company. In every company, so it seems. I opt to steer clear of any flowery words and will be careful enough in not trying to sound bitter. I guess it will be pretty much straightforward – kinda like a friend talking to another as if the following days would be just like any other day. But we all know it’s gonna be different from this point. Different, at least, for me.

The last months have been very challenging for me, as an industry practitioner and as a person. As an industry practitioner, there were times when I began to doubt my capabilities in having to adjust in a traditional Filipino setting of a workplace. It’s hard when people around you are glued to the conventional methodologies of doing things; it’s even harder when their conventionality and conservatism suck the creativity and enthusiasm out of you. That was how I felt. And for what? Well, call it a minuscule adjustment in the paycheck. Don’t get me wrong, it’s never always about the money. But I know my self-worth, too. But at the end of the day, you really can’t entirely blame the bosses, because it’s all rooted at how the organization’s culture was in the first place. And that’s the point where I realized I had to get up and do something about my career, even if it meant ushering in a great deal of change and stepping out of my comfort zone.

As a person, this has got to be one of the most emotionally trying times I had to withstand. What do you do when all your life you’ve been in the company of good friends and then one day, out of the blue, the girls in your team start to alienate you? For quite some time, I began to question myself as a person and began wondering whatever’s wrong with me. In the end, I realized that I can’t be apologetic for something I’ll never know I’m guilty of. I did my part to initiate confrontations, but the fact that they won’t open up whatever my fault was and let me get away with is their problem; their loss. They may hate me, gossip about me, and continuously magnify my flaws all they want. They can even spill my secrets if they choose to, I really don’t care now. After all, I don’t want to spend every day of my life trying to please everyone just to fit in and in turn lose my identity in the process. And for the record, I don’t hate them. I’ll just keep in mind that, once upon a time, we were all part of a happy bunch.

Whew, this one’s getting pretty long. In closing, I guess I just want to be thankful for the last two years it has been. There were more good things to it than the bad, and I don’t harbor any ill feelings for anyone. Whoever said that this world is way too small to have enemies was telling the truth. The things I shared in this blog is my way of breathing out some things that have weighed down my emotional side for quite some time. It’s time for some fresh start; a clean slate. And for everything and everyone, thank you SMART. :)

No Money, Mo Problem

You know that point in your yuppy life when you experience having to forego buying that lovely top on the boutique window or that killer car accessory you’ve been eyeing for months? Or how about that sleek black gadget you sooo want to have before the quarter ends? In short, it’s that time when you’re broke. Think: savings account in rock-bottom, overdue bills in deferred payment mode, and shopping for even the most affordable find could very well be the least among your priorities. B-R-O-K-E is that word which yours truly can sooo relate to these days.

Well, I’m never new to this kind of circumstances. Fact is, ever since I entered graduate school my budget has always been, err, in a sort-of rollercoaster trend. But I’m entirely to blame, for while I’m spending money on what could be a good long-term investment, there are one too many times when giving in to a certain luho gets the better of me. And then my so-called Broke Days would kick in, lasting until the next payday and then my days seem brighter again. But not this time. There will be some major changes that’s gonna happen really soon, and while I won’t divulge on the details here, I can tell you this much: it’s gonna be one hell of a sixty-day tipid mode for me for I am literally broke and I can only convince myself that this, too, shall pass. *sigh*

It’s damn hard, and while I’m only down to Day 5/60, I can already feel the frustration kicking in. I’m sure you know the feeling. Hey, I’m a girl and while I’m not exactly what you can call a shopaholic, there are a LOT of things I wanna get my hands on right now – new lens for my DSLR, new pairs of shoes and new clothes, a new designer bag, travel around the country and around Asia, a new car (Okay, maybe scratch that one for now), try out this famous buffet everyone’s been raving about… and the list goes on and on. But I had to check myself back to reality. Mike told me once when our Palawan trip was cancelled that he hoped “something good will come of this”. Well, I hope so, too. And I’m pretty sure it will. After all, I see it as another one of those life’s lessons learned the hard way. Take note: ‘hard’ is the operative word.

Decisions, Decisions

Changes come when you least expect it. But change comes in two forms. The first one is the subtle kind – one that stands and waits at your doorstep while you flip a coin and make the decision to either let it in or slam the door in its face. The other kind is the one that’s a lot more brutal and less considerate; it comes without warning and you just wake up one day and everything’s not how they used to be. In other words, you’re left with no choice but to sink or swim. Go ahead, take your pick. Although it’s not really much of a choice, just like how the wind chooses which direction it blows. I dunno. I guess change just comes.

And change did knock on my door that Wednesday afternoon. Of course, it had to wait for me to decide if I was gonna welcome it or not. And welcome it with open arms I will. But it’s nothing like an overnight decision. But eventually I had to give an answer. You know, it’s not a bad omen to really think about something before giving it a shot. Thinking is way too different from doubt. Thinking is a process, a sure proof that your mind is not as dense as you perceive it to be, and that you actually have the nerve to consider whatever options are available. Doubt, on the other hand, is that nagging feeling at the back of your head that maybe, something’s not right or should not be.

So if you ask me if I have doubts about the decision I made, I’d say none. Why? Well, because maybe I knew what I wanted all along; that I’ve made my decision a long time ago and just needed something – some sign or whatever – to fortify that decision. And this could be it. Life’s a gamble anyway, so why back out now? Change is peeking in, and I’m letting it in.

Despite The Thursday Rain...

1. My mom and I were able to have a quiet and simple celebration of my dad’s 60th birthday which, hopefully, would be the last time when he won’t be around to celebrate his birthday following his retirement this year. (Welcome to the Senior Citizens Club, dad! ^_^). It was a simple lunch at Mann Hann, which has always been our family’s choice of good and affordable Chinese deli that’s head-to-head with North Park as far as my family’s food choices are concerned. *burp*

2. I was able to watch the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince on its opening day in La-Z-Boy fashion – something that has become a crusade for me since I fell in love to everything and anything Harry Potter. Okay, I won’t even spill spoilers lest I want to disappoint those who’ll be watching the flick in the succeeding days without having read the books. Still, if you’re one who’s looking for some hardcore wizarding action, then don’t even bother enduring the almost-three-hour movie that’s mostly talkies and raging hormones from the adolescent wizards. And no, don’t even compare it with Transformers II: Revenge of the Fallen because obviously, the two movies are both very good BUT are VERY (and I mean VERY) different I terms of theme, plot, and audience. The only common denominator is, well, both lead actors are my crushes! ^_^

Still on HP6 hangover ^_^

3. It was a good day. :)

HK Sojourn Day 4: La Vida Macau

And so the last day of my so-called Hong Kong sojourn with Cassey culminates with a day tour of Macau – a place I call Asia’s Little Europe.

Now, don’t even expect me to get started on how we got to Macau in the first place; to be honest, I’m not exactly proud of how my system fared during the hour-long ferry ride from Macau Ferry Harbour via Turbo Jet. Trust me, it was not my best moment.

Macau is simply beautiful. True, its streets may not be abuzzed with the hustle and bustle of yuppies going to and from work just like in Hong Kong, but somehow Macau has got a charm of its own that would make anyone want to go back the second, third, fourth, or nth time.

We only had less than eight hours to explore the city, so Cassey and I wasted no time in taking in as much of it as we could, squeezing in a bit more of pasalubong shopping and photo ops along the Ruins of St. Paul. Now speaking of pasalubong, don’t miss out on dropping by Pasteleria Koi Kei, for it is one of the most famous home-grown bakeries in Macau just like Philippines’ very own Eng Bee Tin in Binondo. Trust me, their Portuguese egg tarts - something of a notable local specialty – is a must-try. They have other native delicacies as well, mostly cookies of the assorted kind, which comes in neat boxes that should fare well enough during the travel back to Pinas. I know ours did. ^_^

Of course, a day tour in Macau would not be complete without dropping by the infamous Venetian Macao – home to a grand casino, and the gondola rides underneath the delicate ceiling that’s a close replica of the actual Venetian skies. It was a most picture-worthy scene for anyone who has a camera – compact or otherwise – with him that time. As for the gondola ride, we just couldn’t afford a leisurely time with the singing gondoliers because we need to hurry back to Hong Kong for a dinner with friends that night. Too bad. But Cassey and I did vow to ourselves that hopefully we’d fly back to Macau for a longer rendezvous. Oh, and it better be before the summer sale ends by September. ^_^

Asia's very own Little Europe

Until we meet again...

So there. Four days hopping to and fro on that other side of the South China Sea. Sometimes we all need a little break – a time to pause and break out of the routine that’s that usual eight-to-five for us to regain focus; a breather. Hong Kong, for me, would be one of those places I’d love to go back to sometime soon enough, just as long as my budget allows it. As for Macau, well, who knows? It may very well be our next destination soon enough. All I can say is, “Let’s see…”

HK Sojourn Day 3: Finding Mickey

Since Patrick and Elisha were both off to work that Monday, it was up to me, Cassey, and Jhun to figure out how on earth are we gonna get to Disneyland Resort. Mind you, we were all first-timers! Luckily, we made it in one piece, thanks to some useful instructions from Tita Minda before we left the house.

After purchasing our park tickets, we immediately got busy with lots of photo ops beginning at the entrance all the way to Main Street, where most of the souvenir shops were located. Following Main Street, our trio was off to Fantasyland and, at this point, I was about to commit one serious offense in photography – I didn’t charge my camera battery that night thinking the battery would last the entire day at the theme park. Well, you can only guess what’s bound to happen next. With all the posing and clicking, my camera eventually gave out by the time we were exploring Tarzan’s Tree House in Adventureland. Jhun’s camera died out as well, and the last one standing was Cassey’s ever-reliable pink digital camera. Oh, the tragedy of the dying battery!

Posing while Mickey does some surfin' up ^_^

Now what can I say about Hong Kong Disneyland? I’m a bit disappointed, actually. I was actually seeking out more thrilling and daredevil rides (Save, maybe, for the Space Mountain ride in Tomorrowland.), plus the fact that there were no shows nor a parade somehow made the experience a bit less jovial. The fireworks display was a bit of a consolation toward the end, though. And yes, the MTR Disneyland Resort Line was one fun experience as well – very Mickey Mouse-y!

(Thanks to Cassey for the fun pics) When you wish upon a star...

At this point, I only had enough HKD for the Macau trip the next day. You think it will get me through until our departure back to Clark?

(To be continued...)

HK Sojourn Day 2: 3M (Malls, Movie, and Market)

Sunday.

For the early part of the day, I had to explore the city on solo since Cassey had Sunday church service until late in the afternoon that day. So I took the 30-minute MTR ride to Mongkok, where I stayed and did some window shopping and photo ops at Langham Place – a mall that’s adjacent to the hotel and rises at 13 floors high. Since I had liberal amount of time to spare, I decided to watch a movie, and what better choice of flick to watch other than Transformers II: Revenge of the Fallen?

Third row from screen... goodluck to me!

Allow me a bit of segue about the movie. I.SO.VERY.MUCH.LOVED.IT!!! Of course, the whole Shia LeBeouf-Megan Fox thing was a big factor for me BUT the movie in its entirety deserves a five-star rating in all august opinion. The movie’s got it all – wicked and sexy humor, a touch of human drama, hard-core metallic action between the Autobots and Decepticons, plus the musical scoring was one hell to die for. Seriously. I recommend that if you’ve nothing to do and you’ve got broadband access, better get a copy of the OST. Truly a two-thumbs-up! ^_^

"Fate rarely calls upon us at a moment of our choosing..." -Optimus Prime

At the end of the day, my mall tripping wasn’t at all that worthless, for I was able to buy this really cute kitty cat stuff from one of the shops where they’d let you choose the pieces or ornaments you want and they would gladly glue them all together for you in a bit of half an hour. ‘Love it! ^_^

A day in Langham. Bow.

Meow! ^_^

Later that night, I met up with Cassey, Elisha, and Jhun, while Patrick caught up a few minutes later. It was time for some night market action, and as usual my girl’s got her hands full with a couple of new shoes on sale. I, on the other hand, ended up buying this really cute shoulder bag at some stall in one of the nearby malls. The seller would never let me have it for more than HKD 20 off, so I just had to give in because I couldn’t get my hands off the lovely thing. As Cassey puts it, it was one of those rare occasions when I’d end up buying something with her in tow. Nevertheless, I was happy with the purchase even If I had to let go of a few more shilling than I originally intended to.

Dinner with friends at Mongkok

Night Market Scene

We were all drained and dead tired during the ride back home. Elisha and Patrick still had work the other day, so Cassey and I were really dyahe that they accompanied us on our night market shopping spree. Oh, and the weather was still a bit gloomy the entire day but I guess a bit more of the sun was beginning to show up compared to last time. The next day was supposed to be Disney Day, yey!

(To be continued…)

HK Sojourn Day 1: Pre-Departure Tales and Gray Skies

Before going any further with my blog, I would suggest my readers to read my girl’s side of the story here.

Done?

Okay, here goes my fair share of the story…

Now, I’m used to the whole early-morning travel thingies as well as staying awake ‘round the clock to go off on some out-of-town sojourn, be it locally or – in this case – overseas. But never, AS IN NEVER had I imagined that this particular sojourn of mine with my girl would be a bit of an adventure that’s as stylish as a ride on a rented semi-worn out jeepney could get. But I guess you probably have the idea in your minds already after reading Cassey’s blog. Funny thing was, it’s as if everything that could go wrong DID go wrong that day - from Cassey having had to spend extended hours at Mandaluyong office on a Friday (Which explains why we weren’t able to catch the Pasay-Clark Airport express bus that day), her credit card getting stuck in the ATM machine after we met up at RCBC tower, the pocket money which she forgot at the last minute (Thank goodness she remembered it while the taxi was only a couple of distance away from their place!), down to the DMIA immigration staff who were not so amiable as they asked her what seemed like a dozen questions as if my friend was conspicuously dressed like a terrorist. Seriously! In connection with this, let me just segue that flying via DMIA is never a wise idea; better opt for NAIA anytime over DMIA if you have the luxury of choosing.

And so we were off to Hong Kong we were around 7:20 via Cebu pacific on a clear Saturday sky.

Destination: Hong Kong baby! ^_^

Oh, did I just mention ‘clear sky’? Apparently the phrase was only applicable in the Philippines, for Hong Kong that time was blanketed in grays with occasional heavy downpour. So much for our first day.

We arrived in Hong Kong International Airport almost ten minutes late than the original flight schedule. After going through the usual immigration process and having a couple of USD’s exchanged for HKD’s, we met up with Patrick, Cassey’s friend, who helped us with our luggage all the way to their home, where we’ll be staying at for the next couple of days while we’re in HK. Theirs was a pretty cozy place located in Tseung Kwan O in Kowloon, strategically located in-between malls, bus stops, the MTR station, residential buildings, and LOTS more residential buildings. After unpacking our stuff and resting up a bit, he gave us a brief tour of the city and some MTR 101 as well. (Honestly, the MTR + Octopus Card are two of the reasons why I love HK!). Later in the afternoon, we met up with Elisha, Patrick’s younger sib, and went back to their place lest we’ll be caught in the hovering Hong Kong rain. Oh, and Cassey and I snuck out to grab some McDonald’s for dinner later that night since Cassey was on some serious crave mode for Sausage McMuffin. I, on the other hand, indulged into a double strawberry sundae. So much for healthy eating, eh?

(Thanks to Cassey for these pics.) Clockwise from top-left: Face-masked ladies; enjoying my piece of Hong Kong-style siomai; posing by the Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground; our first MTR ride with Patrick. ^_^

Well, that’s it for Day 1 of our Hong Kong rendezvous. At this point, I was seriously crossing my fingers for bluer skies the next day. What do you think? ^_^

(To be continued…)