hit the jackpot (season 2)

happy fiesta!

2009-10-15T01:14:00.005+08:00

highlight of today's celebration is the parade of inasal. based from the program they sent me, they only have about 20 floats of lechon baboy for this year. a friend, who is joining, said he would put only one lechon in his float and fill the rest of his huge truck with lechon bread. lol

i hope the weather would be good the whole day today.

and i hope it's not all about the parade of lechon.

happy fiesta! :)

new blog

2009-08-30T22:45:00.002+08:00

i will have a new blog.

it's gonna be all about travels and places. and cebu, yeah. or i dunno. it's just an idea that occured to me tonight while playing 13 days in hell. i kind of like though.

so hopefully, i'll have my new travel blog with cool layout next week or before 2009 ends. and i'm gonna make money from it. lots! LOL

by the way, this one will stay. this will then exclusively host my stupid notes, ugly pictures, and other things that the world don't really bother seeing. but i'm posting them anyway. like you care if i do, or not.

so that's right, enough of this. i'll be back soon to post the link of the newest and coolest blog on earth. till then!

to my number one

2009-06-17T22:54:00.005+08:00

it was early morning of June 5, a friday, when i got two text messages from my brother telling me that our lola just died. even before i got to read them, i already knew they carried the message, as the night before, i was several miles away, my mother had already informed me, through text messages, that my bedridden lola was looking for me.

i did not know what to feel at that moment. i love her very much. she was close to me. she raised me, guided me on my first times, while my own mother was busy with work. when i was in college, i'd always pray that she'd not go yet. bec if it had happened, i doubt if i would be whole again. i even wished then she'd outlive me, just so i would not feel the pain of losing her. she was my number one.

and she's gone.

it was a different situation now though. she was 88, and so frail. i did not even want to see much of her during the last few months of her life, bec i'd rather remember her as that chubby lola who would tell us WWII and ghost stories every night when my cousins and i were kids. i always insisted the ghost stories be told first, though.

after the stories, she would then set up the mosquito net in her room, so that i could sleep already. but she also knew that i would not sleep alone, and would rather wait for her at the top of the stairs while she rejoined my uncle, her son, downstairs for their nightly drinking session of "tuba."

yep, i shared a room with her. until i started high school.

she was still there even if i was already a grownup. cooked my breakfast and my lunch and dinner. the reason why i never really got to learn cooking bec there was always she who would do all the cooking for me. until we moved out from her house. still, the family came to see her every weekend.

she was also tough. my lolo died of a kidney malfunction in 1972, leaving her all 6 children in her care. and me, bec i always wanted to be with her.

it just upset me big time that i wasn't there in her deathbed when she finally left. she asked for me, but i was miles away. i still feel bad about it.

shortly after i got the news, i felt like flying from bohol to cebu to get home quick. 3 hours later, i was already looking at my lola's face. amazingly, i was seeing only the good years in it, the happy memories. yes, i was so glad that her face did not register a sad expression. she seemed happy to see me. i was happy to see her, too.

at 4pm of june 7, a sunday, we buried her. i stayed longer than the others so she would still have company even for a few minutes more. i did not want her to be alone.

but i had to leave, too. i dont memorize the verses in the bible, but i know, it was just her body that we buried. the moment that she slipped from this world, she has actually rejoined her husband and her drinking buddy, my uncle, who died in 2007, and the rest of her family who have gone ahead.

it was actually not a lonely journey for her. she is sure back in her tiptop shape, eager to see the people she also loves. that thought made the situation easy to bear.

and while she is reunited with her other loved ones in another world, those she left behind have also been brought back together, by her death. she should be smiling now.

for that, and for the love and care, and everything, i have no other words to say to you, my number one, but to THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

and, I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU.

i love you.

Sagada Vol. 2

2009-06-03T16:38:00.005+08:00

Surviving Sumaging Cave
By LGC
May 30, 2009

CEBU, Philippines - Sagada is not only about hanging coffins and burial caves. Favored by nature with high mountains and many caves, this sleepy town of Mt. Province has also quickly become a favorite place for mountaineers and spelunkers.

My friends and I were among those lured by the attractions of Sagada. We were there last Holy Week.

Initially, our itinerary only consisted of visits to the hanging coffins in the Echo Valley, the rice terraces in Kiltepan, the big falls, among a few others. But when the tour guide we contacted through e-mail suggested we should not miss Sumaging Cave, we included it, without actually knowing what we were in for.

After visiting the Burial Cave, with its wet and fog covered trail, we thought that Sumaging, the next cave to see, would be just another burial cave. But we were wrong.

Upon reaching the site, our guide Daniel, who already had a gas lamp at this juncture, told us to leave all the unnecessary things in the car, except for our cameras. And while he and the other guide named George were lighting their gas lamps at the entrance, I asked what could be waiting for us out there after seeing how big (and dark) the cave was.

Daniel then explained to the group we would be on a spelunking activity for the next two hours or so, depending on how fast we move. Hearing this, some members of our group started complaining. But heck, we were already in Sagada, so we should try what everyone was there for.

Sumaging Cave, which is said to have existed millions of years ago (there are fossilized seashells in its walls that date back to the time before the first men inhabited the earth), was also used as a burial ground by the old people there, however, the coffins were destroyed over the years by the water inside it.

So we went inside the cave with only the two lamps lighting our way. The spelunking is divided into three stages. Stage one is what could be called the “bat territory” and of course, with bats’ shit all over the place. And I mean really all over that our hands (and even hair) were already smudged with them even while still halfway into the fist stage. The trail is very steep and rocky that one has to hold into the nearest rock for support, regardless of the slimy feel and the stink in them.

It was a long and difficult trek down. We were all glad when our guides told us to leave our slippers at some corner for the next stage.

Stage two was a completely different world. If the first part was all rough rocks and bat manure, the next stage was a visual treat: magnificent stalactites and stalagmites all over the cave, plus, running water for the tired feet as bonus. At first, the task ahead looked difficult. The rocks in this part looked slippery, that it took several minutes for those in the frontline to follow the guides. But it was actually easy. Easier than maneuvering the hard rocks in the first stage.

Apart from having to jump 12 or so feet to the ground with only Daniel as our human ladder, the rest of the trail was fun. We got to see the many rock formations all over the place. The light coming from our two lamps added drama to the place, making it more breathtaking. And Daniel always had a story or two about the “queen” and her “king,” which he would ask us to find among the many rock formations.

The second stage was a bit of relief from the first. We got to clean our hands from guano and enjoy the relaxing flow of the cold water on our feet. Because of the abundance of water inside the cave, there are holes there that resemble small swimming pools or what Daniel calls “the mother of all bath tubs,” since there are also smaller “bath tubs” in some corners of the cave.

The final stage was another thing. It was a combination of both stages: hard and fun. What greets (and sometimes discourages some to go through it) is the small opening, which can only accommodate one person, going down feet first, at a time.

Just as we thought, the small opening was just the tip of the iceberg. Our guide George was in charge of this game, armed with only a gas lamp since all other belongings were left in the care of Daniel, who was accompanying our friend Ella, who was already chilling and decided not to join us.

Inside the small opening is a small pool, which is a jump-off to a tunnel-like passage, where ropes are used to get down to another pool of waist-deep water. There are rocks protruding everywhere in this trail. Plus, water here is already surging at high speed that you have to hold on to the rope for dear life for you to reach the water below. Falling would mean hitting the big rocks in the corners. It was more than just rappelling for us. It was a death-defying stunt!

But we managed to get to the last point all soaked and cold and exhausted that we could only giggle at Daniel’s never ending tales of the cave’s “kings” and “queens” and “the dinosaur’s footprints” inside the cave. He would tell his visitors these stories, and although he was corny most of the time, especially when he let us make a small line at the entrance of the cave to get to “another cave,” which turned out to be a tiny hole in a rock near where he was standing, we still enjoyed the way he helped us forget our worries, stupid worries of not coming out of the cave alive.

We survived! Beaten, stinking, and all.

fossilized shells at the walls of the cave. meaning, this cave was an underwater thing millions of years ago. or so said our guide daniel.

the survivors and the guides daniel and george.

part of stage 3. the fun part.

this is how i survived. with a smile. :P

OKAY, IT'S OBVIOUS, I LOVED EVERY MOMENT OF IT. WELL, EXCEPT FOR THE BAT SHITS AND MORE BAT SHITS IN STAGE ONE. THE THING ACTUALLY HIT ME STRAIGHT IN THE FACE. BUT THAT WAS PART OF THE GAME TOO, ACCDG TO DANIEL. PFFT. HEHE...ANYWAY, THIS IS NOT THE LAST POST ABOUT SAGADA. TOLD YOU, I LOVE THE PLACE, I'M THINKING OF MARRYING IT ONE DAY. MORE OF PICTURES OF SAGADA (AND ME!), WHEN I'VE TIME TO LOCATE THEM. THANKS FOR COMING!

notes of a sleepwalker (3)

2009-06-02T14:18:00.003+08:00

May 1, 2009
McDo Jones
10:30am

Im having fries and coffee here while waiting for my workmates/friends. We’ll be visiting a sick workmate at a nearby hospital. The agreed time was 11am, I just figured it out I should be here earlier to have breakfast. So anyway, im at the resto’s al fresco, it’s where you can feel the late morning heat and see people from different walks of life. Today, im particularly interested with a group of people just across from where I am.

from my corner, i can see this woman cuddling a baby and opposite her is a thin man, must be her husband. it’s almost lunchtime, the heat’s scorching, it appears that they come to that place, near jollibee’s garbage bin, at this hour everyday to rest.

The woman then produces from a plastic bag a piece of ripe mango. She sniffs it, then gives it to the man, who also sniffs it. It’s like it’s the first time that they’ve actually seen a real mango. It’s cute. And they look happy while repeatedly doing it. they also make the baby sniff the mango. A little while later, while I’m almost halfway with my coffee, the woman peels the mango, and lets the baby sip its juice.

Then an older woman came from nowhere. She’s now handing out packed rice to the small group. She must be doing it regularly, as it seems that the couple is not excited to see her today, with her gift to them. Or I dunno, she’s probably a relative.

So they start eating their rice, and their only mango.

And while they’re at it, my workmates arrived.

next stop

2009-05-16T13:33:00.002+08:00

The Ruins, Talisay City, NegOc

notes of a sleepwalker (2)

2009-05-13T13:29:00.003+08:00

11:45 of the following night
jollibee mango

after my usual lunch, same thing (i love how the rice is cooked!), i went out of jollibee. then there was this girl again with her sampaguitas, this time she was outside the resto. for the first time, she offered me her goods. so gave her P5 for one of those. but she refused my money saying each was P20. i laughed. are you kidding me?? last time i bought one like that, it was only P5. and that was like a few weeks ago. crisis too??? she insisted it was for P20. and since i didn't have extra cash for that, and i felt like she was playing tricks on me, i just gave her my P5 and walked away. but she followed and gave me one of her sampaguitas instead. and when i still refused to take it, she put it in my pocket. i laughed hard. god, she is an amazing kid. i will miss her.

notes of a sleepwalker

2009-05-01T19:22:00.003+08:00

april __, 2009
11:45pm

jollibee mango. im having one of my late lunches here. today, i'm having burger steak with "sagbot" as sidedish. i like the rice a lot. i'll probably have another one tomorrow. he-he.

i'm at a corner, fave spot, nearest to the glass wall. just about a meter from me is a girl. cute one. i always see her when i'm here. 5 years old, or older. i dunno. btw, she's selling sampaguita. i think shes the same girl who sold us, i was with four others, a month ago or so, while we were eating larang (and some other street food) near robi.

anyway, she's clean. so not like the typical kids in the streets. i once saw her, during my other visits at this resto, wearing a pair of clean rubber shoes. today, she is wearing a pair of topsiders, with raffled socks (however you call them) in them. it's already late and shes still there. wherever her mom is..

and oh, she's not begging. she may look at me from time to time. but she never extends a hand to me, to beg. but if she ever does, i'm actually prepared to buy her the same food i'm eating. just 39. i'm nice today. he-he. but she never does. it's almost 12, and i'm out.

Sagada Vol. 1

2009-04-29T19:34:00.013+08:00

Sagada: A Place to Behold!
by LGC/Vatski
published last April 26, 2009 here

WARNING: I'm all over here. LOL!!!!

It had been my dream to see Sagada. It was some years back when I first saw a footage in television of the hanging coffins they had there, so I told myself I should see the place before I die. Since then I had been ogling in blogs for photos and accounts of the place. Finally, my turn to see Sagada came.

Since it was a Holy Week, and a Good Friday at that, and we learnt that trips to and from Sagada were limited, so to ensure that we got everything in order, we reserved a van for the visit.

Six long hours! It was like traveling from Bogo City to Santander. But hey, it was still a fun trip. I was with eight funny people who seemed to enjoy the long journey. It also helped to have a nice driver, Kuya Agustin, who knew when to stop the car for photo ops.

One of the “mandatory” stops is the Philippine Pali, the highest point of the country’s road system being 7,400 feet above sea level. The place is in Cattubo, Atok, Benguet, two hours from Baguio. This stop also allows the driver (and the passengers, too) to stretch some muscles in preparation for the next half of the trip. There are comfort rooms here.

At this peak, there’s a deck provided, where you can view the other side of the mountain and all the breathtaking view below. The scenery we had that day was amazing after a drizzle and a rainbow was out. We only had about 15 minutes to take it all in, then back to the car with a bag full of carrots, considered “rejects” from the last harvest.

It was past 9 in the evening when we finally reached the town of Sagada. I slept for the most part of it though, as it was already too dark, bumpy ride permitting while Benguet and the first part of the Mountain Province have developed roads, Sagada is still unpaved with some on-going developments. Hopefully in a few years, the ride wouldn’t be that rough anymore. I just hope that the government would do something to protect these roads from landslides as on our way home, we actually witnessed a few minor ones. As advised, we traveled during daytime to be able to see the movements of the earth especially during rainy days.

Hungry and exhausted, we finally reached Sagada Guest House, where our two rooms were reduced to one due to an “unexpected” arrival of some important guests. The owner’s daughter spoke in straight English, which was a relief. We were too tired to argue so we settled for that single room, which was supposedly for three people. All nine of us (the driver slept in the car) crammed in that room. Anyway, the owners and the receptionist were very nice, especially when they served us our first full meal of the day, making it a great nightcap.

The following day. The trip was supposed to start at 6 in the morning, but we were too tired to get up that early and there were not enough bathrooms for the nine of us. Besides, it was too cold to go out yet. It was actually freezing cold that we had to bring our jackets with us even if our guide told us that we would only sweat out later on.

Before going on a tour, all visitors should register at the town hall, just a few meters from where we were staying. After paying P20 per pax, we were set to see all what Sagada had to offer. No other fees after this. For our guides, however, (we had two, since one guide is for five people for all spelunking or caving activities), we paid them P400 each (the current rate of the Sagada Genuine Guides Association) for the Sumaging Cave spelunking (on another story). There are cheaper rates for other sights, about P200 per guide for a group of 10 people. For that day, we had Daniel, as our guide.

Our first stop was the Burial Cave. This is just a few minutes away from the municipal hall. We had to trek down the foggy mountain trail to reach this cave. We made it for about 10 minutes or so, since we had to stop every now and then to catch our breath. It was tiring, but, man, the sight was awesome!

(trek from the burial cave. yep, that's fog at my back.)
At the entrance of the cave you can already see the piles and piles of centuries-old coffins. According to Daniel, the number of coffins is now down to 134. The 1990 quake had destroyed some of these treasures, he said. The part where the coffins are stacked is just a few meters from the cliff that leads to the inner crevice of the cave. Because of the movement of the earth during that quake, those coffins nearest to this gap were swallowed by the hole below. The town however tried salvaging what remained of the broken wooden caskets with the bones inside them.

But that was not all. We learned too that the place was once looted. Natives and even visitors plundered some of these treasures for souvenirs. Because of this, Daniel said they had to nail in place the covers of each of the remaining coffins to ensure that nothing of that sort ever happens again. We tried prying open one coffin, it was really shut off.

One sad note too is that these coffins, apart from the common lizard carvings on their cover (lizards to the old Sagada people was believed to help them get to heaven), don’t have identifications in them. Daniel said that this was actually because the ritual practices by their ancestors were part of the old “pagan” tradition.

(Inside Sagada)
Centuries ago, Christianity was still alien to Sagada. According to Daniel, their old people either hid their dead in the caves as part of the burial ritual or hang them at the face of the mountains to be closer to the heavens.

Those in the caves are the ones being frequently pilfered or destroyed by the harshness of the elements, while those hanged in the mountainside, after so many decades of being there, are still in their glorious state.

One example are the Hanging Coffins in Echo Valley, just a short walk from St. Mary’s Church. Sixteen coffins are still hanging in a mountainside there. Although there are signs of vandalism in the wall, our guide told us it happened some years back and they are keeping the area in tight watch.Although the Sagada people have embraced Christianity a long time ago, there are still some who prefer to follow their ancestors. The newest coffin in this site was hanged in 2007, according to Daniel.

The coffins, which are made of hollowed out trunks of pine trees (reportedly done by the dead themselves, well, before they were about to die), in this site are situated about 15 feet above the ground. Visitors could only watch them from below. It was a tough task for those who actually hung those caskets. Daniel however told us that they had to raise the coffin first, make some braces to hold it, and the body would be placed into it afterwards.

The size of most of the coffins are actually smaller, enough to fit a child. But Daniel said the dead is forced to a sitting position, as was an old Sagada tradition. They also bring with them a chair each strapped to their coffins for them to sit on in the afterlife.

There are actually several burial caves in Sagada, I learned from our guide. Some of them only housed the females, but none was actually exclusively for the rich. He said, during the old times, there was no old or rich in Sagada. It could be true as the coffins are all made of pine trees, had no varnish and had no other accessories, not even a smudge of color.

So, these are treasures of Sagada. I’m actually glad to have seen them. I just wish they would still be there in the next century.

PS: WE ONLY STAYED FOR A NIGHT. GOT THERE AT 9PM OF GOOD FRIDAY, SLEPT TILL 5AM THE NEXT DAY. THEN WE STARTED THE TRIP. WE ONLY HAD ABOUT 8 HOURS TO SEE THE BEAUTIFUL PLACE OF SAGADA. NATURE, NATURE, NATURE, AND COFFINS (ACTUALLY MUMMIES. LOL!). I LOVE THEM ALL. BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, I LOVE(D) SAGADA. HOPE TO BE THERE AGAIN AND "SMEELED" AT THE CAMERAS (HAHAHA..THANKS, SIR DANIEL!). OKAY, ONE OF THESE DAYS. EHEHEHE...

MORE PHOTOS SOON. THANKS FOR COMING...=)

ps2: for more info about the trip, talk to me, i have the numbers of the inns, the guides, etc.

cOminG sOon: hArry poTTer anD tHe HaLF-BlOod PRinCe

2009-04-18T14:01:00.004+08:00

set to be released this July 15. (trailer is already out)

this is rated PG. so even if it's action-packed as promised, there are no sex scenes here. lol!

anyway, i can't wait, i've even reserved the best seat at cinema 1 (dolby digital) in sm already. so anybody there who cares to join me? again, this july 15. ^_^

the diplomat hotel

2009-04-16T10:52:00.009+08:00

it was a good friday (april 10,'09) when we finally got to this part of baguio city. at my insistence of course. we rented an FX being the most common taxi cab in the area to climb to this part. it's actually on top of the hill, way farther from the Lady of Lourdes Grotto. the grotto is more than 200 steps from the base. but since we did not have the luxury of time, we opted to do the easier way: rode the cab and took the shortcut which leads to the last two flights of stairs to reach the grotto. several miles up from the grotto is the Diplomat Hotel. fast facts: the building was opened to the public in 1915 as a vacation house sanitarium by the Dominican Order priests. they then later turned it into a school the following month, but due to the small enrollment they had to close it down, reverting it to its original use. during the wwII, refugees occupied it. then the Japs took over the place with the refugees still in there, that when the Army Liberation Forces bombed out the building many refugees were actually killed. reconstruction started in 1947. and in 1973, the Diplomat Hotels, Inc. acquired the property and converted it into a 33-bedroom hotel with modern facilities. it however ceased operation in the 80's due to the death of one of its majority stockholders. and for the many years since it has been kept uncared for, rumors have it that the place has become haunted. there are reports of headless priests and ghostly figures caught in cameras. i did try catching one when i was there. that was why i prepared my cam for the visit, had to use a good amount of memory for the vid. there are some "smoky" figures in these 2 vids i got, but i'm not saying they're apparitions of some spirits or whatever. i didn't do editing, fyi, cos i don't know much about that. they were just probably some light effects. just go check for yourself. so anyway, i'm so thankful there was this one brave girl, a korean i think, who decided to check out the place too, since the 6 people i was with that time were too scared to go inside the place, that they even forbid me to go up to the second floor blah blah blah. but who cares? i was there to take it all in. it was my dream. so we did roam the place. i loved every moment of it. it was weird. i'm weird.

the cross at the roofdeck

the best part was everywhere inside it: the corners, everywhere! i think it's because the place is abandoned for too long. it has kept with it, or sort of immortalized what had happened there in the past, and the people that came to live in it. probably why visitors would say they saw ghosts or hear errie sounds. i did hear a giggling sound somewhere in the second floor, not sure though if it was from a ghost, i did not ask. it was from a woman. and there were only two of us in there, and no one was giggling. i didn't giggle. there are more errie photos of this place, i'll be posting them soon. i prioritized the vids because i just want the world to see that i was inside the diplomat already. =) so there, enjoy!

okay, i had troubles uploading the vids, so here, just a few photos instead. vids to follow, if they will. tssk!

this blogger with the ghosts. lol!

earth hour

2009-03-28T16:23:00.002+08:00

this is an international campaign against global warming. from 8:30 to 9:30 tonight, let's all switch off our lights.

i think it's cool. =D

next stop: Apo Island

2009-03-25T12:45:00.006+08:00

so i was in Apo Island. that was last feb 25 & 26. it was the next stop after dumaguete city.

from sibulan, where i met up with my diver-friends from Talisay, we moved to Malatapay, Zamboangita, NegOR, the jumpoff port to Apo. the travel time is about 30 mins by private car. since there are no public ferries in the area, we rented a boat to get us to the next island. estimated travel time from the port to Apo is 45 mins.

at around 1pm of feb 25, after being mercilessly rocked by the waves, we finally made it to Apo.

this is Liberty's Community Lodge. owned by Kap. Liberty. this is where you can rent a room and dive/snorkeling gear. on the second floor of this building is a resto.

this is at the back of the island, at the marine sanctuary. we dived here at 8am the next day. notice the waves. these are just small ones.

early morning of feb 26, second dive.

i would have loved to take photos of the giant corals or what they call the massive corals, i just didn't have a camera with me. tsk! but anyway, the others have taken time to get these (thanks!!).

here are some of the species seen at the island's sanctuary. =)

up next: Sumilon Island marine sanctuary.

first stop: dumaguete city (feb25,'09)

2009-03-04T12:44:00.008+08:00

it was purely work for the first 5 hours we got there. and finally, we were free!

after our early supper (and watching slumdog millionnaire <--to be reviewed soon.), we started the trip. i am no longer an inconsistent environmentalist, so i insisted we just walked around.

it was already nighttime, and drizzling. then it rained for a few minutes. so we stopped at a nearby cakehouse to get something for snacks. i had a small white chocolate cake for myself which i bought for only P55. they also have coffee there. hmmm...i hope they would put up something like that in Talisay, best for latenight getaways.

we were back at the place we were staying before we knew it. and the next morning we were already catching our boat for our next stop: the Apo Island (photos to be posted soon), so we missed the sans rival house. tsk, tsk!

okay, i didn't bring any pasalubong, but above are the photos i took while in the city of happy people: NegOR provincial capitol, a resto and the baywalk.

more photos here.

me the painter ^^

2009-02-23T13:23:00.005+08:00

2 hours for sketching and some tips from my "teacher" (that was on the first day i started it), 6 hours to seriously do it (last sat) and another 3 hours for the "finishing touches" (yesterday) that long! but as you can see, 11 hours of hard labor is paying off. or so i think. LOL

im just so proud. i think i can do nudes now. =D

special thanks to PETA for the subject; (yep, thats supposedly yasmin kurdi there, i just turned her into a manananggal); to aldo for the lessons (i need to learn more though); to my neighbors for keeping me up all saturday night bec of the disco (just dont do it everyday, utang buot!); and to myself for believing in myself (hahaha!)

more works to come. hopefully. ^^

4

2009-02-06T14:55:00.004+08:00

this blog turns 4 next week, on friday the 13th. 4! with 444 posts already.

i just wish i could do more for (and with) you. more interesting posts (photos and vids of the hanging coffins, for one. can't wait!). and a great layout (with no ATOM thing!).

bertdi, blog! =)

estarbaks ta ig friday. pramis! ;)

City of God (a movie review)

2009-01-31T20:15:00.006+08:00

Directors:Fernando Meirelles
Kátia Lund (co-director)

Cast:
Alexandre Rodrigues ... Rocket
Leandro Firmino ... Li'l Zé
Phellipe Haagensen ... Benny
Douglas Silva ... Li'l Dice
Jonathan Haagensen ... Shaggy
Matheus Nachtergaele ... Carrot
Seu Jorge ... Knockout Ned

The Plot: Gangsters killing one another. But this is a no non-sense film, it is even touching at some point.

Set in the 60’s in a ghetto of Rio de Janeiro, the film brings you to the lives of those people living in the slum, to their violent world: young armed thuds smashing other people’s properties to steal and their younger siblings watching them like heroes as they do it.

Then these younger fellows grow up to be just like their older brothers, who at this time, are already long dead.

Click here for the full review of this movie.

Special thanks: wengkat for the Ube Espesyal ice cream i had while writing the review. good luck sa diet. >.<

next movie review: Love in the Time of Cholera.

Barack Obama

2009-01-21T13:27:00.007+08:00

i was one of those many Filipino people who stayed glued to the tv set the entire night to witness the 44th American President to be sworn in to office. that was actually the first time i watched an inauguration of a foreign leader, along with millions of other non-American citizens all over the world. sometimes, i helps being an insomniac. lol!

studio 23 gave a live coverage of the event, plus factual views and analysis of the historic ceremony from the anchors. well, except for ces drilon. with her stupid commentaries and questions, she was not helping the show at all. glad she left before the real event.

anyway, i already mentioned Obama in my march 2008 post. that was quite a long time ago. now he is the president of the most powerful country in the world.

with this new vigor America has now that it just welcomed its new leader without protest, it is possible change will happen, like Obama promised. that's america.

and this is the Philippines:

the flag above is from a tugboat used during the fluvial procession last saturday, jan17,'09. are we this poor already?

sinulog mardi gras 2009 photos

2009-01-19T17:59:00.007+08:00

these are the photos...(alin ang naiba diha. lol!)

pfft! like last year, it rained. but it did not deter the more than 2 million people from the different parts of the world to watch and enjoy the mardi gras. it stopped me from taking more pictures though, which disappointed me big time. anyway, it was still fun to be out there, working and enjoying the moment at the same time. thanks to wengkat for the company and for the food. =)

ps: last photo shows the tatlong itlog sharing the tatlong manok. hihihi

time out

2009-01-17T17:17:00.006+08:00

already tired with watching music vids of britney, hilary, beyonce, boyz II men, etc online. now it's time to answer some important questions that may help me become a surgeon someday. haha! copied this from feebee's blog. diara!

What kind of vitamins did you take as a kid?
vitamin c, I can’t recall the brand.

Did you get any compliments today?
nope

Are you friends with your neighbors?
no, we’re just new there. but with the old neighbors (where I grew up…), we are one big happy bingo-playing family there. lol

Favorite color?
blue/white/gray

How long has it been since you've seen the Lion King?
a few months ago, with my friend’s 5-year-old kid.

When was the last time you drove more than 15 minutes?
last sat

Have you ever had a crush on your friend's siblings or sibling's friends?
i don’t remember

Have you ever gone to the beach?
like last sunday

How good is your eye sight?
still 20/20. although i have the tendency to squint a lot. >.<

Whats the longest amount of time you've been on an airplane?
35 minutes—m/l (the travel time from cebu-manila & vv)

Have you ever been out of your country?
not yet. but im going to Egypt soon. he-he

What's the best wedding you've been to?
i don’t remember attending one. really.

Would your parents be mad if you got arrested for fighting?
what a question!

Ever been in love?
i’m also human for goodness’ sake!

Do you have a Honda, Toyota or Nissan?
no, but i once fell in love with a Nissan Sentra.

What did you do this weekend?
played bingo! lol

Do you wear contacts?
no

What do you usually do first in the morning?
check the time

Who was the last person you went to the movies with?
jute, we watched "the day the earth stood still" and got drunk after that. joke!

Do you like where you are right now?
been up since 3am, and now it’s almost 6pm and i want to go home already, yet I cant bec the roads are temporarily closed for the procession. that makes me super happy!

Do you miss someone?
yes, my uncle. the family hasn’t seen him for the last 17 years…after some misunderstanding. the other day, i googled for his name and I got an article about an accident that happened in 2004, his name was among the casualties. now I miss him. im still checking though if that was really him.

Do you believe ex's can be friends?
whats the case?

Last relationship and when?
--

Been cheated on?
in reference to the question before this? nopez.

Have you ever been a gymnast or a cheerleader?
seriously???

Has anyone ever told you they want to spend the rest of their life with you?
nope

Has a boy/girl ever called you babe/baby?
nyahahhaha…BLANK

Will you be in a relationship in four months?
i don’t know.

Does anyone hate you?
i don’t know. i don’t care.

Anyone annoy you?
im not easily annoyed.

What is stressing you out most right now?
my insomnia and my back pains. i feel so old already. tsk!

Does anyone love you?
outside the family? i think so.

Are you easily confused?
i don’t get you.

Are you high maintenance?
no.

Are you happy with the way life is going?
life’s okay. but i'll be very happy if i can do MORE.

Do you hate it when people smoke around you?
yes. it's suffocating.

Is any part of your body sore?
my back as always.

How do you feel about public displays of affection?
it’s not fair. joke!

What always makes you feel better when you are upset?
music and happy thoughts. or a company of a favorite friend.

Do you like to take walks?
yep. sa beach!

Will your next kiss be a mistake?
what’s wrong with a kiss?

Do you fight with your grandparents often?
nope. okay, once. but that was a long time ago.

Where is the shirt you are wearing from?
adidas.dah, ukay-ukay! =)

Have you ever been in a car accident?
yeah. a few months back. i hit a bike-riding old man. he sustained minor bruises in the knees and toes. i only had his bike fixed, bec that was only what he wanted. i felt so guilty after that.

What bed did you sleep in last night?
that hard bed in my room.

Would you rather have big or small dogs?
i don’t like pets anymore. but we have a shih tzu and a kitten in the house.

Are you afraid of falling in love?
no.

What are your plans for today?
go home and sleep.

What color do you paint your nails?
i don’t paint my nails.

Have you ever thought about getting your nose pierced?
never

Will you move in a year?
i hope not. ive already had enough of moving.

When was the last time you were told you were cute?
never. bec im not cute. tsk! lol

Have you ever read an entire book in one day?
last time was The Alchemist. that was about a year ago

Last night, did you go to sleep smiling?
nope. bec i was forcing myself to sleep fast.

Do you want to get married?
NOPE. im tired of this kind of question already.

Are you mean?
sometimes…

Do you think relationships are even worth it?
as long as there are no losers in the end...

Do your parents really know you?
i think so.

Would you ever get a tattoo?
never. i hate needles.

Are you stubborn?
and proud.

Would you rather go to Tokyo or Paris?
let me go to sagada first.

Who else is in the room with you?
my workmates

next post: my beauty tips!

the dream job

2009-01-15T13:48:00.002+08:00

catmon

2009-01-10T18:00:00.009+08:00

so mao ni ang mga hulagway nga nakuha nako sa among pagsuot-suot sa lungsod sa catmon niadtong oct 25-26, 1963.

mainit spring. this is in the uppermost part of brgy duyan. mokatkat pa ka og taas-taas to get here. way bayad nuon. di ko sure, wa man mi pabayri gud. pero murag naa. hahahha (pangutana lang mo didto)

mainit spring up close. trust me, init jud siya. limpyo pa. the source is just somewhere down there, pwede ka magkuha og init tubig didto para kape. yeah, yeah...

to the rapids. gabuot2x ra ko ani. but there are really rapids down there. you have to go down that part there, medyo steep ang agianan pero worth it ang tanan. they have the hidden falls there, and this cave that is almost similar to palawan's underground river. way binuang! wa lang lagi camera, kay di man water proof, di sad ta tantong danghag. next time!

river. river that connects to the falls, caves, etc. strong knees are needed in going to this part, kapoy kayo katkat sa mga bato! i hope naa nay bridge diha ibutang si mayor. or at least maayong dan. hehehe...

lobby. to the hot spring. or to wherever.

aroma mountain resort. this is in barangay macaas already. just a walking distance from bless' place. si bless, mao nang starring kayo sa ubos.

bless and multz. ingun ani pagkaon, the bless way (alkanse lang ang way blog. hahaha)

all-in-one. humba, menudo and rice. wa nay tagdanay!

that's bless. god help me! hahahha

if there's anything else you wanna know about catmon, you can ask me, i've been there several times already. hehehe...thanks for reading. =)

the "bad things" today

2009-01-09T20:03:00.005+08:00

but at least i wasnt forced to wake up early in the morning. Or I’d really be pissed. So how the 'bad things' started? here goes:

we were scheduled to dive at the lagundi reef(for workmates who are reading this, it was a work-related thing…intawon!) at 12nn today, there was no assignment before that, so I did not have to wake up very early. the meeting place is just a walking distance from my place, but I rode in going there anyway kay bag-o pa man mata, mabungi unya ta hehehe…

at past 12, i was already all geared up for the dive.....suit and all.

I already told the people I would be diving with that I had a 2pm meeting at the office. But at almost 2, we were still at the beach waiting for one more diver and the boat. Crap! If we could only have a beach entry, I would probably have gone ahead…...joke!

at the dive spot. been diving for 2 years, but today, my body just would not sink. Already had three kilos of “tingga” in my belt, and i was just there inches from the surface of the water while my dive buddies, about 20 feet below me, already feeding the fish, checking the corals, et cetera…...i was just there, watching them! I did everything I could to sink, but i was just probably too flabby…..note to self: do some exercise!

So after about 10 minutes of just watching the other divers from afar, I decided to quit. Swam back to the boat. then I learned that I already had 4 missed calls: one from a source and three from the office. It was still at least 30 minutes before everyone would come up. if only i could not swim back to the beach. hay!

It was already way past 3pm when we finally got back to the beach. office had already called up.

And when I got home, there was no water. he-he!

I bathed anyway. Don’t ask how I did it.

It was a quick bath, I was already running to the cab station after about 10 minutes. However, there was no single cab in sight. hmm…..a workmate was already telling me the meeting was about start.

So I took a trike to get me to the next taxi station. But before reaching it, one of the trike’s tire slipped to a hole, we were stuck. i had to run to the station..... only to find out that there was no single taxi cab in there. wooh!

It took me at least 5 minutes, and 5 minutes is already a long period of time if you are in a hurry, to see an empty cab. I quickly got in before the driver could tell me that the roads going to my workplace were already closed for the procession of the sto. Nino (I did not know that), that he could not bring me there. he did tell me anyway.. ..almost pushed me out of his car, as he did not want to be trapped where the road would end. it was already almost 4pm, if he wouldn't drive me, there was no other way to get to the meeting, or at least to work. i was close to begging.

but with all the whatever powers bestowed on me by my ninunos, i was able to persuade the hesitant driver to take me to the nearest pit stop.

at first, it was a smooth sail while at the coastal road/srp. it was at the last bridge (if you’re coming from the south) of the highway that traffic was bursting. we were so trapped. this time, for about 30 minutes. at this juncture, i wouldnt really mind being ejected from my seat. lol!

It was already past 5pm when I finally got to the office. meeting was over. and work was already done. then I realized I had no breakfast and lunch yet. I almost fainted. just kidding!

At least there was already food waiting in my table. Hehe…(tenchu!)

So that was how my day spent me. Bow!

this is part of the Lagundi Reef. nice kaayo. =)

children's christmas party 2008

2009-01-02T17:38:00.006+08:00

dec 24, 2008
7pm, at a public road :P

one small party

200+ smiling little faces

to those who helped us, thank you so much. =)

where are you christmas

2008-12-23T16:09:00.005+08:00

things to do this christmas:

1. make the kids' party a little bigger this year. just the thought of it, gikapoy nako. done with most of the shopping though (gipangkutkot nga ngali tong mga chocolate sa akong kwarto), i'll have another tomorrow, good luck jud sa traffic ug sa kahuot sa gaisano.

2. lose weight. im bulging now. ni-shrink na akong mga panti. nyahaha!

3. buy something for myself. i just learned this morning, wa man diay koy pinaskuhan para nako. ingnun ana ko kapobre. tsk tsk! i think i'll get for myself a cozy house by the beach. >.<

4. greet everyone. greet nalang kay way tay pangregalo.

5. get a massage and/or sleep. i cant wait!

ps: photo is a scene at the lobby of waterfront lahug. title is borrowed from the grinch movie, faith hill's version is better though. ako rang gitaytol kay ganahan man ko. he-he!

now, i need to do item no. 4:

merry christmas, everyone! =)

MICS in Action

2008-12-17T15:28:00.005+08:00

last sunday, we trekked to this uppermost sitio of barangay manipis, talisay city, to show some care and love to the people there. it is almost christmas anyway.

mics, btw, is a new organization formed just last november by a group of palahubog and palakaon... (there will be a site for it soon). and i dont know what came into our minds when we decided to do some good in campinsa. we were probably drunk when we thought of it. hmmm...

initially, we only thought of a feeding project, but since we were already at it, we gave some more...

these are just a few of the 131 families who received the bundles of joy....i just hope they loved it.

one of the 114 kids who took home some goodies from me...aw, from mics! =)

si justin feeling politiko.

we also had lugaw for them. and for ourselves. nangaon pud mi no! lol

two weeks ago, we visited sitio campinsa. a far far away place of talisay. about an hour away from the highway, and a 15-minute super rough ride to the place. mura kag ni-travel sa north pole.

and this is what we saw on our first visit there:

a makeshift classroom for the grade-one pupils. it was a sad sad situation, happening just in my city. dont worry, we already "reported" it SEVERAL TIMES, until they all wake up and start doing something!

and this too! road going to campinsa, which makes the 15-minute trip there a hell.

on our way to the site, i tried sitting at the part of the car for a good view of the cliff below, but that was a mistake. i almost died of heart attack. from my seat, it is just a breath away to the mananga river below. and by below, that's at least 100 meters. i dont like that kind of death, fyi! LOL

we also "said" something about that, i just hope something really positive would come out from that visit and constant reporting.

but the good side of it though is this, nope, not our haggard faces. ahahaha...

about 2 weeks of planning and we did it! bow!

thanks to those who helped us.

criminal mind

2008-12-13T18:03:00.003+08:00

last time i fired a gun was last september, on my birthday. i love target shooting very much. i think love guns more than i love men. lol! that was almost 3 months ago, but amazingly, i did better today than the last time. a double bullseye in two consecutive shots! and not only that, i hit the same whole i made with my first shot. that felt sooo good. XD

here's the evidence:

my range officer/city councilor Ben Abatayo.

today, my spine, and more

2008-12-10T19:52:00.005+08:00

9am—-woke up (forced to wake up!)
10am-on my way to jollibee tabunok for a meeting with MICS (I will have a post about this new group soon)
1010—-suroy suroy sa gaisano kay wa pa naabot ang mga tawo. I don’t like waiting, fyi!
1025--back to jollibee
1030—-the meeting proper (kaon2x pud)
1130—-done with eating and the meeting
1130-past12—-canvassing of grocery items for MICS’s project (to be posted here once we’re done with it)

around 12—-office message: "go to minglanilla." location: tabunok, talisay
12 something—already prepped to go to mingla when the motorbike we were riding had a flat tire. There were 3 of us in it. location: still in tabunok

almost 1-—at a vulcanizing shop nearby.

still almost 1—still at the shop. office: “where are you?”

1pm—still at the shp, motorbike tire already done, then it rained.

1pm plus-—me to office: "im almost there."

1pm plus plus—-me to MICS people: “ what to do now?”

120-—we, 5 of us, took the multicab. a few minutes later, rain stopped.

130—location: nearing naga (naga is next to mingla)

135—driver: “fyi,naga na hapit.”

136—everyone out of the multicab. rain was back. office: “yo!”

136—-me while eating something and drinking mirenda from the plastic:”im lost!”

140-—friends from mingla rescued us, brought us to the "place."

147-—already at the place.

2pm—-my deadline. one of the friends: “videoke, guys? okay, to the house!” she owns the car she was driving, it was raining. MICS: (speechless)

210-—at her house, eating banana cue, the rest doing the work.

230-—office: “where are u?” me: (silent mode)

310-—me: (calling one of the guys who were enjoying the robotic massage): “oist, ingna imo kong boss, nanawag.”

311—one of the guys to the house owner: “mam, nah nanawag nang office.”

312—off to some place. mics: (speechless)

318—-at a party place. one of the two friends: “okay, meet my other friends.” mics: “hi, sir! hi, sir. hi, everyone.”

330—still at the party place. one of the mics pips: “guys, we should kiss our jobs goodbye now.”

333--one of the friends felt our concern. sa wakas!

340—she dropped us somewhere. mICS: happily hopped into the waiting multicab. pfft.

350—arrived at a vulcanizing shop to get the bikes. bound to the office like crazy.

355-already near tabunok overpass when another motorbike overtook us, we almost died. me to god: “god, if I die today, pwede later nalang, napa koy isubmit?”

356—to the traffic guy. (I don’t know what the traffic guy did to the overtaking bike)

4pm—at the srp. zoom…me: (praying. lol)

420—worked.

725—breathed!

728—dined.

8pm—blogged while jasmin uy was massaging my back, and discovered that my spine is no longer in its "right track.wengkat: “dear, u have scoliosis.” me: “i dont know...” Jasmin uy to wengkat: “ikaw pud, dear, letter T imong spine.” toink!

830—died.

next post: wanted: healthy spine.

Ang Pag-ibig Ayon Kay Bob Ong:

2008-12-04T13:49:00.003+08:00

1). 'Kung hindi mo mahal ang isang tao, wag ka nang magpakita ng motibo para mahalin ka nya..'

2). 'Huwag mong bitawan ang bagay na hindi mo kayang makitang hawak ng iba.'

3). 'Huwag mong hawakan kung alam mong bibitawan mo lang.'

4). 'Huwag na huwag ka hahawak kapag alam mong may hawak ka na.'

5). 'Parang elevator lang yan eh, bakit mo pagsisiksikan ung sarili mo kung walang pwesto para sayo. Eh meron naman hagdan, ayaw mo lang pansinin.'

6). 'Kung maghihintay ka nang lalandi sayo, walang mangyayari sa buhay mo.. Dapat lumandi ka din.'

7). 'Pag may mahal ka at ayaw sayo, hayaan mo. Malay mo sa mga susunod na araw ayaw mo na din sa kanya, naunahan ka lang.'

8). 'Hiwalayan na kung di ka na masaya. Walang gamot sa tanga kundi pagkukusa.'

9). 'Pag hindi ka mahal ng mahal mo wag ka magreklamo. Kasi may mga tao rin na di mo mahal pero mahal ka.. Kaya quits lang.'

10). 'Kung dalawa ang mahal mo, piliin mo yung pangalawa. Kasi hindi ka naman magmamahal ng iba kung mahal mo talaga yung una.'

11). 'Hindi porke't madalas mong ka-chat, kausap sa telepono, kasama sa mga lakad o ka-text ng wantusawa eh may gusto sayo at magkakatuluyan kayo. Meron lang talagang mga taong sadyang friendly, sweet, flirt, malandi, pa-fall o paasa.'

12). 'Huwag magmadali sa babae o lalaki. Tatlo, lima , sampung taon, mag-iiba ang pamantayan mo at maiisip mong hindi pala tamang pumili ng kapareha dahil lang maganda o nakakalibog ito. Totoong mas mahalaga ang kalooban ng tao higit sa anuman. Sa paglipas ng panahon, maging ang mga crush ng bayan nagmumukha ding pandesal, maniwala ka.'

13). 'Minsan kahit ikaw ang nakaschedule, kailangan mo pa rin maghintay, kasi hindi ikaw ang priority.'

14). 'Mahirap pumapel sa buhay ng tao. Lalo na kung hindi ikaw yung bida sa script na pinili nya.'

15). 'Alam mo ba kung gaano kalayo ang pagitan ng dalawang tao pag nagtalikuran na sila? Kailangan mong libutin ang buong mundo para lang makaharap ulit ang taong tinalikuran mo.'

16). 'Mas mabuting mabigo sa paggawa ng isang bagay kesa magtagumpay sa paggawa ng wala'

17). 'Hindi lahat ng kaya mong intindihin ay katotohan, at hindi lahat ng hindi mo kayang intindihin ay kasinungalingan'

18). 'Kung nagmahal ka ng taong di dapat at nasaktan ka, wag mong sisihin ang puso mo. Tumitibok lng yan para mag-supply ng dugo sa katawan mo. Ngayon, kung magaling ka sa anatomy at ang sisisihin mo naman ay ang hypothalamus mo na kumokontrol ng emotions mo, mali ka pa rin! Bakit? Utang na loob! Wag mong isisi sa body organs mo ang mga sama ng loob mo sa buhay! Tandaan mo: magiging masaya ka lang kung matututo kang tanggapin na hindi ang puso, utak, atay o bituka mo ang may kasalanan sa lahat ng nangyari sayo, kundi IKAW mismo!'

19). 'Pakawalan mo yung mga bagay na nakakasakit sa iyo kahit na pinasasaya ka nito. Wag mong hintayin ang araw na sakit na lang ang nararamdaman mo at iniwan ka na ng kasiyahan mo.'

20). 'Gamitin ang puso para alagaan ang mga taong malalapit sa iyo. Gamitin ang utak para alagaan ang sarili mo.'

21). 'Ang pag-ibig parang imburnal...nakakatakot mahulog...at kapag nahulog ka, it's either by accident or talagang tanga ka..'

pinoy survivor update 4

2008-12-03T16:21:00.005+08:00

bec she was a "threat" to the remaining castoffs, nanay zita was last night's victim. it was like the end of survivor.

bwisit!

the remaining castoffs: jc, cris, charisse and rob. kaye was already voted off in last friday's tribal council.

kiko is gone. and now nanay zita, too.

it is the end of survivor. BOW!

(edited) ang kabaw ug ang manok

2008-12-01T18:42:00.005+08:00

kabaw: witwiw!

manok: eew!

shot in Island in the Sky (Balamban)

next post: ang manok ug ang itlog

my 2008 christmas wishlist

2008-11-28T19:14:00.007+08:00

none is too hard too get. just a handful of things i want to have this christmas to get me started with my new hobby.

so ordinary and non-expensive.

and some i'd like to have but just cant afford to get.

a big bike and a wetsuit!

just that. no boyfriend. ^.^

pinoy survivor update 3

2008-11-26T16:04:00.003+08:00

marlon is finally out. voted off in last monday's tribal council. but the mood was not all happy with his exit. he was after all a nice guy. the world was probably shocked to learn that there was actually some good in him. lol!

the hidden flint was actually a joke.

his other surprise attack however is real. but as to what it is, that's for us to find out. or ambot basin joke na pud na niya. patriling!

now that marlon is out, cris, another asshole in the making, should be next.

i missed last night's episode. according to another fan, jc won the immunity again. i just hope he'd take away cris this time.

pinoy survivor update 2

2008-11-22T14:07:00.005+08:00

last night was probably the best tribal council in pinoy survivor history, well, so far, kay naa pa man ang final tribal council where the sole winner will be picked.

what happened was, the baboy, who already felt he’d be voted out, made his last-ditch effort to save his ass. He did not only have one move, he had two:

1. he hid the flint and extinguished the fire at the camp before they left for the tribal council. while still at the camp, after losing the immunity necklace to jc, he already wrote something on a piece of paper of what he did. at the council, before they could cast their votes, paolo then read this out so everyone would know. fire in the life of a castaway is more important than food. those who were thinking of voting him out are probably having second thoughts now.

2. that “it’s for you to find out” statement of his. either he also hid the rice supply of the tribe or put some poison on its water tank. he’s that mean.

we should have seen the last of marlon last night, but because of this twist, gma prolonged the suspense. And it’s likely there’s still more of him in the coming days…bwisit!

so expect this Monday, with all those revelations in mind, some more twists in the show.

either the 5 naak members would:

a. go ahead voting marlon, as earlier agreed upon
b. or vote anyone else instead of the baboy

i. kaye and cris are already thinking of getting rid of either rob or jc to break their small alliance. But since jc has the immunity necklace, rob may get the vote.
ii. charisse being a former member of jarakay could be it.

however, since they could no longer talk to one another, it’s possible they go ahead with plan a.

i hope.

for episode recaps, visit www.survivorphilippines.tv

frustration no more

2008-11-20T18:59:00.005+08:00

sa tibuok nako nga kinabuhi, since i could remember, nag-ambisyon na jud ko nga mamahimong painter. not actually like picasso, bisag ala-juan luna lang gud. hehehe...bitaw, i remember when i was in high school i asked a neighbor who could paint to teach me his art. armed with all my painting stuff and an illustration board, i went to his place to see him paint, and try it myself too. abi ko it'd only take minutes to do a simple art (subject that time was an angel in the garden, ambisyosa kayo ko!), one hour the most. but three hours later, we were still far from finishing the thing, and it was already time for him to leave for his flight somewhere. ana ka dugay ang show. so i brought the unfinished "masterpice" at home, all done with it, the mother nga usyusa then asked if i did it. and the hambugera that i was, niangkon sad. bakakon kayo bisag igo ra jud ko nag-trace ato. wahahaha!

hahay! mao to. i even made a few more, pero di kayo nindot kay ako naman lang usa. but all were lost with our constant moving from one place to another. sayang lagi, each might have fetched at least P50k in the market, i was told. joking!

so now that we have a new workmate, and i was told he's a good painter, nibalhin naman to og lugar akong mentor sa una, i decided to get back to it. just over a week ago, i brought things for our lesson: a box of watercolors ug mga brush. but even before i could tear the plastic of my 2-yr-old watercolor, our boss here said he already suggested to our big boss that all "talented" workers be allowed to do an exhibit early next year. wow! i so want that. exhibit dayun, wap-a gani nahimo bisag usa. hahaha! i havent asked him though if the big boss agreed to the idea, but all seven "talented" workers, this blogger included (i can go crazy with this!), have already signed the letter-request. there, it stated we would be given materials needed for the task and a venue for the exhibit. right now, im excited to inform everyone of that, so prepare your money kay og mahitabo na, sigurado ipapakyaw nako ninyo akong "paintings." mangluod jud ko og di mahalin. hahaha
hay lord, i really dont know if i should be happy about this one, di pa nuon sure though og madayun, kay added responsibility jud ni sa akong busy life. char!

anyway, thats one dream that is set to come true. IF EVER. now, im thinking of what subjects to make. i should stop doing anymore mother and child thing, murag sobra ka lisud. siguro mga nudes. what i need now are my subjects. anyone?

ps: for those who want to pose nude, let me know. LOL

pinoy survivor update

2008-11-17T14:39:00.009+08:00

in last friday's tribal council, vern got voted out. although i would have wanted marlon to be in her place. vern was just a force to reckon with, that if she continues to be in the game, with her strength and suble wit she will likely beat all of them.

marlon, the baboy from jarakay, was one i was rooting to be voted out even before jarakay was merged with naak! for those who dont watch the show, this guy im talking about is asshole personified. but he was just sooo lucky, i hate it!

the next tribal council will be this friday. im already preparing a huge clubhouse and a cold coke for that, in celebration of marlon's demise. he will surely be next!

then his fellow jarakay member charisse will surely follow. since she's from that rival tribe, theres no way she can get into the last five.

as of this week, it's 5 naak members against 2 jarakay. and if my prayers would be heard this time (nidakot na jud ko's pitalo ganiha!), that leaves charisse alone (to become next week's casualty)...let's just wish the baboy would remain a baboy in this week's immunity challenge.

therefore, all 5 naak members will then fight for the title.

so this is how i see things will go when that happens:

all the boys: jc, chris and rob will form their own small alliance. they will send home either one of these ladies in the tribe: nanay zita or kaye. nanay zita, being the most influential in the team, will likely get voted out first. and kaye will follow...

but if things get better for nanay zita (which is very possible since she's a nice person all throughout the game, and everyone knows that. i just hope they'd never forget it.), jc and chris will have her in the alliance, giving her another week in the game. rob, on the other hand, will be in kaye's side, naibog man na siya ni kaye. hahaha

then the couple goes, one after the other.

from the start, ive been rooting for nanay zita and kiko. but kiko is dead already...so nanay zita shoud be it. fyi, she's bisdak. lol!

jc may win too.

as for chris, he is just not my favorite. not even a bit. so damn him for sabotaging naak's plans!

but right now, i cant wait to see marlon's stupid smile die with his torch.

ps: this is so far the best survivor franchise i've ever seen. mondays-fridays, 10pm, gma7.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>nanay zita and the baboy<<<<<<<<<<<<<

the return of the comeback

2008-11-14T14:16:00.002+08:00

this was not supposed to happen. just dont ask me what went wrong, im in hurry. so now that im back, i've a handful of things to do for this poor blog.

1. take that ATOM thing asap. i just dont know how though, so if anybody down there who does, pls tell me. thank you.

2. do some pimping here. this is all i can do. i would have loved to see more fishes in the background. steaming coffee on one side, and some moving texts on the other. but cripes, im only good in imagining things. daizuke, if you dont change your mind soon, i will really kill you!

3. go back to work. i need to do the real thing now. so bye!

closing time

2008-06-04T14:12:00.004+08:00

to everyone who came for the last 3 years,

thank you so much. =)

look who's talking (again)

2008-05-30T16:17:00.003+08:00

the following are a few of the conversations i had with my little friends:

two nights ago, i fetched a six-year-old daughter of my friend from their place. she had a dance performance that night near our place. for several minutes, she had me waiting. and when she finally emerged from the second floor of the house...

I asked: diin gud ka gikan?
em: namulbos, nanudlay, nag-off lotion!
me: nganu gud tawn nag-off ka???
em: haluuu...sa inyuha naa tay dengue!!!
me: *GULP

yesterday, i went back to their house, and in the living room, i saw her 5-year-old bro, Third.

Third: ate, ate, you like animals?
me: yep! (smile)
third: (takes something from a drawer, and shows me his rubber snakes!)
me: shit!
third: di man ni shit, te. snakes...snakes.
me: *dies

at an old neighborhood several weeks ago...

jovic: ma, singko bi?
his mom: sigeg pangayo!
me: (hands a P5 coin to the 5-year-old kid)
jovic: tenks, te. kaw nalang taud sa akong ribbon ig graduate nako ha?
me: imu diayng mama?
jovic: di ko! di manghatag og kwarta!
me: okay (haha)

at a friend's house, while we were eating, Third was suggesting me i should paint our house with the same colors as theirs. fyi, i don't remember asking him for it.

Third: te, inyung wall kay white; ang ceiling, green; stairs, brown..blah blah (he was actually looking at his surroundings while saying this)
me: how much man akong magasto ana tanan, dong?
third: (thinking) umm...infinity.
me: huh?!?

i was on my way home one night when i met jovic somewhere down the road...

jovic: nganung ga-shades man ka?
me: sakit man akung mata. (fyi, i was only wearing correctional glasses then)
jovic: mura na nuon kag lola.
me: lola bitaw ko.
jovic: nganung ate man akong tawag nimo?
me: di mag-lola ka.
jovic: mayg gasungkod ka!
me: haay...

back with Em2x...

me: baby, pagdiet na uy, mo-grade one na raba ka.
em: (facing her mom) mama, ingun si ate_____ pwede diay mo mag-diet...
(then facing me) te, okay ra pud ko mang-lipstick?
me: hoyyyy...

bad breath?

2008-05-28T15:35:00.004+08:00

Most of us don't know if our breath is no longer that desirable. Thus, to ensure we don't kill each other with our foul breath, we normally do this: cover mouth with the palm and breath, and smell it. And? And forever hold your breath. At least, there's no casualty here. Or, the safest (I always do this): gum chewing. The latter keeps breath fresh even if you don't open your mouth for a period of an hour or so. But when the gum's power is gone, man, it's back to silent mode again.
No one is spared from having a bad breath, as according to the author of the following article, published at The Freeman, our mouth is the "porthole" and our stomach as the "sewer." Please read...

Ewww! Bad breath!
By Debbie Duraliza, RN
Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Do people gag and cover their noses when you say “Hi”? If you brush your teeth three times a day but still sense that you have bad breath, trust me, you probably do.
Bad Breath (Halitosis)

Try to imagine your mouth as the porthole and your stomach as the sewer. The smell may come out of your mouth but the problem comes from inside your body.

If you don’t practice good oral hygiene after eating, food is left in your mouth. The food collects bacteria, rots, and causes a bad odor.

You want to know if you have bad breath? A quick way to check your breath is to lick the side of your finger, then let the saliva dry for a minute or so. Smell the spot and you’ll know what your breath smells like. Have smelling salts on hand, in case you faint.

Common food culprits
*Garlic
*Onions
*Cabbage
*Cheese
*Coffee

When these are digested and absorbed into the bloodstream, substances from the food items get into the air that you breathe out of your lungs. This can cause bad breath until all of the food is gone from your body.

What you can do
*Crank up your brush! Bacteria in your mouth break down food particles and create volatile sulfide compounds (VSCs), which smell like rotten eggs. In addition to brushing, try a tongue scraper for a clean sweep.
*Consult your dentist. Cavities, gum disease, dry mouth, or an abscessed tooth are just a few oral ailments that can contribute to bad breath.
*Dry mouth? If you are always breathing through your mouth, it can cause bad breath since you have less saliva to cleanse the mouth. Dry mouth may also be a side effect of the medicines you are taking.
*See your doctor. Respiratory infections, sinusitis, kidney and liver conditions, and diabetes are just a few of the medical problems that can cause bad breath.
*Stop smoking. D-uh! Do we really have to explain this one?
*Go natural. For a quick fix, munch on fresh parsley, mint, or ginger. These are natural breath fresheners.
*Drink tea. Lab studies have shown that drinking black or green teas blocks bacteria in the mouth from making the chemicals that smell bad.
*Chew sugarless gum. It stimulates saliva, which neutralizes acid and helps remove plaque, and freshens your breath. Gums containing the sweetener Xylitol can help limit the growth of bacteria.

You can also use a mouthwash. But if you need to constantly use something to freshen your breath, you should see your dentist/doctor to help find the cause.

a text message

2008-05-17T13:35:00.000+08:00

"No matter how strong we hold on, still there comes a time that we suddenly fall."

from my email inbox

2008-05-17T13:29:00.003+08:00

Lesson Number One
A crow was sitting on a tree, doing nothing all day. A small rabbit saw the crow, and asked him, "Can I also sit like you and do nothing all day long?" The crow answered: "Sure, why not." So, the rabbit sat on the ground below the crow, and rested. All of a sudden, a fox appeared, jumped on the rabbit and ate it.

Management Lesson: To be sitting and doing nothing, you must be sitting very, very high up.

Lesson Number Two
A turkey was chatting with a bull. "I would love to be able to get to the top of that tree," sighed the turkey, "but I haven't got the energy. "Well, why don't you nibble on some of my droppings?" replied the bull. "They're packed with nutrients." The turkey pecked at a lump of dung and found that it actually gave him enough strength to reach the first branch of the tree. The next day, after eating some more dung, he reached the second branch. Finally after a fortnight, there he was proudly perched at the top of the tree. Soon he was promptly spotted by a farmer, whoshot the turkey out of the tree.

Management Lesson: Bullshit might get you to the top, but it won't keep you there.

Lesson Number Three
When the body was first made, all the parts wanted to be Boss. The brain said, "I should be Boss because I control the whole body's responses and functions." The feet said, "We should be Boss as we carry the brain. The hands said, "We should be the Boss because we do all the work and earn all the money." And so it went on and on with the heart, the lungs and the eyes until finally the asshole spoke up. All the parts laughed at the idea of the asshole being the Boss. So the asshole went on strike, blocked itself up and refused to work. Within a short time the eyes became crossed, the hands clenched, the feet twitched, the heart and lungs began to panic and the brain fevered. Eventually they all decided that the asshole should be the Boss, so the motion was passed. All the other parts did all the work while the Boss just sat and passed out the shit!

Management Lesson: You don't need brains to be a Boss - any asshole will do.

Lesson Number Four
A little bird was flying south for the winter. It was so cold, the bird froze and fell to the ground in a large field. While it was lying there, a cow came by and dropped some dung on it. As the frozen bird lay there in the pile of cow dung, it began to realize how warm it was. The dung was actually thawing him out! He lay there all warm and happy and soon began to sing for joy. A passing cat heard the bird singing and came to investigate. Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung and promptly dug him out and ate him.

Management Lessons:
1) Not everyone who drops shit on you is your enemy.
2) Not everyone who gets you out of shit is your friend.
3) And when you're in deep shit, keep your mouth shut!

pawagtang's duka

2008-05-06T12:44:00.001+08:00

mga bangkero

2008-05-05T12:18:00.003+08:00

amazing. 4-year-old kids of Sta. Fe, Bantayan Island.

food galore

2008-05-01T13:21:00.006+08:00

Here, as requested by iyaan, that I should take some shots of food. though she wasn't so specific of this special assignment, so here, ako nalang gihilugwayan tanan nindot man pud. i would have loved to do the food tasting with her, but i did not know there was this kind of food feast till i came that night. the invitation to come here in Mactan Shrine, it was in april 22, was received only a few hours before the event. and i was already in Hilton, which is just a walking distance from the place, so it was no problem going there. they were celebrating the Kadaugan sa Mactan, and the food festival was one of the many activities there. it was really a big event for food lovers like me. i've been to a number of food feasts already (festivals of mangoes, lechon, local delis, etc), but this one is different. there were so many choices, and they were prepared and served by big hotels like Hilton, Shangri-la, Plantation Bay, among many others. and priced at no more than P60 per meal. when we got there the place was already jampacked with people, and food was gone before the show closed at 9pm. the event was really for the food lovers. anyway, as promised, here are the photos, for your visual treats.

PS: special thanks to ms divine who lent me her N70 for these visual treats.

coastal cleanup (april 23,'08)

2008-04-29T16:49:00.003+08:00

The project was sponsored by Hilton Cebu Resort and Spa, and it was pure luck that this blogger was invited to this annual event, that she's been wanting to be a part of (char!). Environmentalist man kunuhay ni sya. haha!

This is Hilton, taken from Manny O's Wine and Tapas.

Past 7Am, the group started the first dive. a few-minute ride by speed boat from the resort's shoreline is the resort's marine protected area that was unfortunately littered by trash.

For 20 minutes, the group collected several sacks of plastics, tube pipes, ropes (from boats), tin cans, papers (mostly boat tickets), et cetera. It was really taxing. I even had a hard time lifting my sack back to the boat cos it really became heavy.

But it wasn't all that. After our second dive, done in Talima Reef (that's in Olango Is, a few minute ride by speedy speed boat from Hilton), we visited the neighboring resorts to check their share of the coastal cleanup. Actually most of them were done with it by the time we got to their respective places. This photo shows Maribago Bluewater's man-made island. This island sort of surrounds the main resort. It was good seeing it, so clean and inviting. But if you knew its real story, you'd really feel sad of its existence. Refer to news stories, pls.

Hilton at early in the morning. All clean.

Shangri-La. Just adjacent to Hilton, which was my base for this activity. Just so glad they had me there ;)

Tambuli Beach Resort is next to the Shang. This photo was taken when we were moving out of the place to proceed to Maribago, our next stop.

Maribago. There is no photoshoping involved in here. I think I'm getting quite better with photography. Ha-ha-ha!

This is already outside of the real thing. Taken on the morning before I went down to work. You see the rest of the island of Mactan gleaming with its beauty complemented by the nice sunrise. It really feels soo good to be up so early sometimes. Yep, with such a grand view, who'd ever complain. =)

Sunset. Another view from room 1213, where I was.

Sunrise.

My tired feet. I left my slippers in a speed boat that took us to the dive spot, so here, I'm wearing Hilton-issued "sandals" on my way back to the city. lol! Seriously, this promdi, no matter where you put her, she'll always be what she is.
Sebu, Hilton's stuffed fish (sold for P500).

Like I said it was tiring, but fun nonetheless. Glad to share it with you. Till next adventure!

PS: some of the photos are courtesy of Miok Loyola of Hilton.

what are you

2008-04-22T12:48:00.005+08:00

It is difficult to gather friends who are already adults even if you live in the same place together. Work or the "more important things" in your life will always be among the top execuses not to attend a gathering hosted by a friend, for example. In my case, I'm always available, actually too available that I've become the group's icon. lol! I'm talking about my friends back home. Last time we finally got together as an almost complete group was last Sunday, a post birthday celebration of a friend who now works and lives outside our city. We did not try to remember the old times, of course, why would we waste our precious time for that. Instead, we ate and got a little drunk, and talked and laughed like kids. We were supposed to sing in the videoke, but forgot about that bec there was just too much to catch up on. These are my childhood friends. And below is a list of other friends, of which I have at least one of almost each kind.

I got this one from a website, and i'm posting it here (wa ko nananghid). The author posted 19 types of friends, which I cut, revised, made some comments (in italics) for this blog. Here goes...

The Best Friend: The gold standard of friendships. A best friend
listens but never judges, helps you out of a jam, tells it to you
straight, and often forgives a debt. Best friends resemble invisible
friends in that both are most common in childhood (and may not really exist).

I used to have a bestfriend before. And it's true that your bestfriend
always listens and never judges like what the author says. I remember those younger days, this bestfriend would never get tired of my telling her my problems and all. She would even cook my favorite food while i sit in their kitchen chair telling her all my present aches. And eveything would be over og mangaon na ming duha. It was at this stage of life that i weighed 56 kg while she 72, and we were both
teens then. Five years ago, she went abroad, and even with the distance, we've managed to keep our friendship, i think. And our weights as well.

The Old Friend: Ideally, a lifelong bond that stirs fond feelings and cherished memories...In reality, most old friendships are embedded in a complex economy of favors. President Bush rewrote the entire tax code for his old friends.

I am no president. But I'm almost always around for my friends. That sometimes they can become abusive of that benefit. Pero no worries, that is just a bit of a price to pay for keeping someone who is demanding, obnoxious, mean, annoying, and i can go on forever enumerating the bad side of me. :P

The Older Friend. Someone your senior who mentors you with wit and wisdom, as portrayed in the best-seller Tuesdays with Morrie.

I like this one. Good conversations, free coffee, and more freebies.
Because he/she earns more money than you do. Lol! Seriously, this type of
friend can also be an older sis/bro that you never had, minus the sugo. Hehe
The Wild Friend: The friend whose bad behavior never ceases to
entertain and may at times inspire you, for better or for worse. Though
wild friends get a bad rap, they save as many lives as they ruin.
Boring people—writers, for instance—desperately need wild friends.

I don't I have wild friends in my list. And godhelpme, I'm not a
boring person. Lol!

The Ex-Friend: Don't ask, but if you do, the answer may well involve money or sex. Or both.

Former but never enemies. That'd be fine.

The Scary Friend: Someone who never fails to nudge you out of your comfort zone—way out. Scary does not mean quirky. If a friend likes to spend his weekends re-enacting Civil War battles in period dress, that's quirky. If he shows up at your door in uniform late on a weeknight, that's scary.

I'm so glad that although most of my friends are crazy, none of them
is scary. Ako ra ngali. nyahahah...

The Boss Friend: A person higher on the org chart who thinks your
brittle smile and the startled look in your eye is an invitation to further terrorize you outside the workplace.

People, stay away from bossy people. That's an order!

The Confidant: Someone who wheedles more out of you than you planned
to share. Sadly, many confidants are also talented gossips who will soon be bartering your deepest secrets for someone else's.

Oh, never trade secrets to people not in your circle. Seriously, you
know even from the first encounter if the person is "it" or not.
Well, anyway, secrets are secrets, they should be kept where they are
safe. Keep them here! (points to self!) ;)

The Single-Modifier Friend: Any companion you proudly describe, if
only to yourself, with one word: for instance, "my gay friend" if you happen to be straight, and vice versa. You can train yourself out of the habit by slowly adding modifiers, as in "my neat gay friend" or, with practice, "my socially inept and secretly homophobic straight friend with a godawfully bad haircut."

...I'm already used to hearing my college friends (most of the time if not always) introduce me to another person as a "classmate from college." While my workmates, me their “workmate” or “officemate” or former workmate, for that matter. When it should have been workmate slash friend or a college friend. Yeah, I like it when the word friend should always come in the introduction, I don't mind if adjectives like sexy, voluptuous, talented, or anything else that is
also me will be omitted. Just being "your friend," it's fine. (LOL)

The E-mail Friend: A digital update on the kind of letter-writing
friendships that thrived in the era between the invention of ink and the arrival of cable. If the medium is the message, as Marshall McLuhan claimed, then the message of most e-mail friendships is goofing off at work.

I think it's much better than textmates. Because you both get to exchange longer messages, and it's more fun than sending messages through SMS, which is bounded by characters and load. Emails give you more chance to say anything you want, and you know when a person is serious with your correspondence when he/she replies to your mails. Libre na bya ni, syaro moingun pa jud siya nga way load!

The Special-Interest Friend: Group friendships form around a shared
passion—for diving, food, movies, et cetera.

Because you share the same passion, this type of friend can actually make a very good company, bisag makadlawnan pa mog tabi.

The Friend-You-Only-Drink-With Friend: A subspecies of the
special-interest friend. In extreme cases you might not even recognize such people in the harsh light of day, having only seen them in the barroom glow—and from the side.

..I'm sorry I don't drink.

The Secondhand Friend: When someone introduces you to someone
else, supposedly because they think you'll hit it off, it could be a clever strategy to ditch you both. Which is good: Secondhand friends are a better deal than new friends, which, like cars, lose 20 percent of their value once they leave the showroom floor.

Secondhand or not, if you hit it off you hit it off. The value will always be there, granting it has been there since. Because a person is different from a thing of which value depreciates by the second!

The Dormant Friend: Every so often a dead friendship will spring back to life, bringing two people even closer together than they used to be. The reawakened friendship speaks to the mystery of friendship in general—especially
if you've forgotten why you drifted apart. But give it time; you will be reminded.

Basta ba, no bad words said during the hiatus.

The Friend with Benefits: Not the kid down the street with a
trampoline or a parrot that swears. We're talking sex buddies. Popularized in a lyric by singer Alanis Morissette, friends with benefits....

Hmmm...apart from that, there are also friends who only remember you when they need you. Ack!

The online Friend. The author forgot to add this. But this is self-explanatory...

I have a number of friends I only met online. And because I'm a bit of an internet freak, it feels good to have some familiar people in this new-age tambayan, too. I'm not talking about chatmates sa ym, bec I don't go there that often, and I don't enjoy chatting with strangers. I'm talking about fellow bloggers that have also become friends bisag di magkita.

So there, i thank the author for providing me a nice material for this blog that has been dormant for over a week already. Baboo!

seriously?

2008-04-11T15:20:00.002+08:00

These are not song titles, but mails, spam mails! Gad, how I'd love to know those people who send them to me everyday!

"Fill her up right now"

"1day sale: P1/pill for ViagraPill, Cializ, SQMA..."

"Your device will make her shudder"

"Get the rod of your dreams"

"Do you want the biggest main organ?"

my (small and big) dreams

2008-04-10T13:07:00.004+08:00

At the moment, I can only dream to be this or that:

1. An Egyptologist. This is someone who studies the history of Egypt of which includes mummies!

2. A politician. This has been an old dream. Since grade school. And it's not coming true yet. buhuhu

3. A service crew member (at Jollibee). I like to do things quick, no dull moments. And I think I'm good at multi-tasking, and especially good at cleaning tables, mopping floors, and balancing food trays. Believe it or not! :P

4. A lab-asera. This is someone who sells fish at a public market's wet section. I so love shouting for customers. And counting the many crumpled paper bills in my apron's big kangaroo-like pouch, er, pocket after a long day at the merkado.

5. A surgeon. Someone who specializes in either (or both) brain or cardiothoracic surgery. I have a background in medicine, I've even been a part of several minor operations before. Circumcision and some suturing of open wounds just like that (winks). And everytime I did it, I'd always think, my hands are steadier than yours, doki. lol! During those 3 years, I did not want to be like that doctor. Hay, blame it on Grey's Anatomy!

6. A filmmaker. If you're a movie lover, what could be best than making your own movies?

7. A barista. At Starbucks! I know this is too much. Hehe

8. A travel reporter. This is really one of those jobs that, they say, offers "higher jolts" in one's lifetime. I wish I could really break into this. Fingers crossed! =)

9. A car racer. Racing at high speed, this is really more than what the word exciting means. But I know how expensive this is.

10. A private pilot. Just of a small plane that can go to unchartered places like Sagada. I was in an aerial tour last week, and learnt from our pilot that I need to have at least P1M to learn the flying course. I also gathered from him that there's a big demand for pilots worldwide. Each, if hired locally, is paid at least P100K per month, or at least US$25K abroad like in Qatar. We quite had an interesting conversation that day, that had I been rich to afford his 8-month flying course, I would not have gotten off Mactan airport without enrolling in his school first. Not for the money, but just for the love of going to places. But it's like, P1 million???

as of the time being though, this is all i can afford to do: watching the sea that separates cebu and bohol. it's like me here and my dreams there. hmmm.

enjoying Nalusuan Island's marine protected area

2008-04-07T13:31:00.003+08:00

shutter

2008-04-03T14:20:00.002+08:00

SHUTTER. This is set to be released here in Cebu (hopefully) next week, if at all. I understand it's now being shown in Manila theaters. I want to see this one even if I know remakes (although they make big bucks) always pale in comparison with their orginals, cos firstly, I like Shutter (the original, a Thai film) and lastly, this remake now stars Joshua Jackson. I quite miss this guy. So hopefully, it'll come sooner. And contrary to reviews I've read, I wish it'd be worth watching.

summer plans

2008-03-26T14:26:00.001+08:00

Summer used to be an inexpensive holiday as a kid. But when you grow up, you started going out and explore the world, so to speak. I really don't mind spending this summer anywhere as long as boredom doesn't strike away sooner. So these are the possible ways (and places to go) to enjoy the heat with less expenses:

1. Reading at least 3 good books. I've got loads of unread ones already (just recently I bought 5 second-hand ones from a bookshop near the office), at least, this only requires a well ventillated area conducive to long reading (and sleeping a few chapters later. lol!), a glass of iced-cold coke and some chips. That's actually cheaper than watching a movie at the cinema these days where you spend at least P100 for the ticket alone. The book is not even expensive. My 5 new acquisitions are actually worth a little more than P100, because one is no more than P30. But right now, they are gathering dusts like all the rest.

2. Watching funny movies. At least we have discounted tickets for this indulgence. And cinemas are getting comfier by the day, albeit expensive. But again, at least our tickets are cheaper by more than half their orig prices. XD

3. Snorkeling/Scuba diving. I had one already last Good Friday in Nalusuan Island. It was a great treat. I haven't dove since November last year, and it was refreshing and fun to try it in a new place like Nalusuan (photos of which will be posted here soon). And I hope there'd be more coming before the season ends. Libre!

4. The Beach. I'm so dark already. But I'm not going to the beach to further make me a baluga. Just a whole day (or two) of total relaxation, and a long night of talking and drinking and eating and everything will surely be just great. There are many cheap resorts in Cebu. Beach, anyone?

5. Movie marathon. I've done this the past week, and I'm still not tired of it. I still have to make a review of everything I watched during those vampiric moments. For this either I rent at Video City for P16/VCD or P20/DVD, or borrow 1,000-in-1 debedes from friends.

6. Sleeping. I was so full during the holiday, and didn't get to have enough rest. One 4-year-old neighbor the other day after he greeted me, pointed to my left eye and said: "Gi-blackeye, ay!" And I was like, "huh?" I thought there was some dark stain near my eye that the kid thought was a blackeye. But adult neighbors, who were there, told me the kid, who quickly left the scene, was referring to my dark under eye circles. Then I realized I really needed sleep. So I should sleep the summer away...

7. Playing tennis. I've become quite huge now. Thanks to the regular pigging out. Hence, I need to exorcise the excess flabs. There's a tennis court in our area where I can play anytime for free. I just need company.

So there. It's just all a matter of political will now.

Korean movies et al

2008-03-10T19:16:00.002+08:00

Jeon Ji-hyeon

Visiting Koreans when you listen to them, their accent is, er, what is that? Strange or whatever. The faces, never mind. But at least, they do hilarious movies. The 1,000-in-1 pirated DVD I borrowed from a friend almost two weeks ago is a colletion of funny flicks that although I don't understand most of them, it's still worth spending my late-nights with. And yesterday I got a chance to finally watch My Sassy Girl, upon the owner's insistence (and I had to return her DVD too). And the sassy girl, Jeon Ji-hyeon, is so pretty, I even fell in love with her. LOL! Then I learnt from the owner that she also stars in most of the films in that 1,000-in-1 DVD. I finished Windstruck even if it was already time for our billiard match. Then I heard from the owner again (um, I can't read quite well the titles in the cover cos they're not only too tiny, they're also blurry so I needed direction) that she also plays one of the lead stars in Il Mare, from which Lakehouse was copied. Thankfully, though, this one movie is not in that DVD collection, or I'd have missed the match.

I don't know with Korean films, but they always try to be entertaining. There's even one movie (I forgot the title) in this same DVD where I developed a cough for laughing too much. The same with My Sassy Girl. Windstruck, it's nonetheless funny, but it's focused more on the love story of the two characters. And Koreans are known for making romantic films with not-so-happy endings, where one of the major players dies in the end. Although Windstruck is a bit different. I actually find it a bit cute. I suggest, watch My Sassy Girl first, so you could better appreciate the second Jeon Ji-hyeon-starrer film.

So what's really up with showbusiness? I gathered Grey's Anatomy will be back next month. Strike is finally over. I so can't wait to see it. As for the movies, 10,000BC was a big hit over the weekend, I've read in some site. I watched it last Saturday, and I could say it isn't that great (even the title lacks it). It lacks substance and a good story-telling technique. (I really miss sitting in a cinema chair and loving every moment of it because in front of me is a movie that I'll remember for the rest of my life. vfft!)

As for the local news, I've recently read about Mura's having crush on Angel Locsin and Sharon Cuneta's making her daughter Frankie sell turon and banana cue. I really don't know what has gotten into me today. I really don't know. And you're still reading me. tee hee...Happy Monday!

Barack Obama

2008-03-06T14:09:00.006+08:00

It appears that Hillary Clinton is a popular choice, but like always, I go for the underdogs. I vote for this guy. Way but-anay! =)

sa unang panahon (with addendum)

2008-02-28T14:11:00.005+08:00

It was either "break, break, break!" or "zzz...." Then got tired of it all, nag-abroad. lol! But one of the best things in that stint was chatting with almost everyone from the different parts of the world. And these are a few of those chats we had a long time ago. Remember?

me: hoy naa ra diay ka diha
ga-email2x pajud ko nimo bayota ka
haha
jOyamAe: :D
8:08 PM mao jud
me: reply ato kaw
hahaha
jOyamAe: cge :P
-7 minutes
8:16 PM me: nireply jud!
hahha
jOyamAe: LOL

jOyamAe: NTE jud ko gurl tungod sa akng shoes. gisita ko sa guard gnina
me: aton imo open ang luyo? nyahaha
jOyamAe: yes
huhuhuhu. high blood tawon ko gnina. pero ge nlng. pyn
6:49 PM me: dah
haha
waka work?
6:51 PM jOyamAe: work woi. sleepy au kow. dadto ta mgbreak nya sa cottage sa may warehouse ha?
6:53 PM me: this afty?
sure
didto mi carlo gahapon gurl then tubig inut ray gihatag sa vendom sa iyaha
tubig inut
init! yati!
hahaha
6:54 PM jOyamAe: hahahahahahah. ay mao na jud nah ky, gadumot na ng mga vents niya ky abusado ug kape
6:58 PM me: lagi
6:59 PM ky sya ra jud nabktima
those following hm sakto man
jOyamAe: hala oy, 2nd shift na cya nd wal cleng. wa ko dungan lunch. saunz
7:00 PM me: gipiskat si cleng
hehe
kuyog mo sir butski o
jOyamAe: ngeks. yaw, mauwaw tah :p
7:01 PM me: uwaw ka jan
:P
jOyamAe: lageeeeh. mag-fasting nlng kow. kaluoy
7:02 PM me: way maluoy nimo gurl
wahahah
:P
nagda kag pastel?
7:06 PM jOyamAe: ayay
no pastel for u
7:07 PM me: bahala ka!!!!!!!!!!!
7:08 PM nana kay lunchmate?
jOyamAe: bruha ka
giignan jud niya butski ay
muawaw lagi tah
me: ^.^
mauwaw ba oi
wa
gani ko mauwaw diri ako nangagda
7:11 PM jOyamAe: ahey. kaw mn
bruha
hehehe
7:15 PM me: hmp! mura sad og di ganahan

Caloy: hoy___mag break ka...
--7 minutes
3:33 AM me: nah mana woi! wa ko kita nimo ganiha. diin kaha ka
3:34 AM Caloy: huh?? naa ra bya ko diri ha
ahh bsin naa ko pikas cube nag allocate
wla sad ka nag tan-aw2x
me: abi ko niuli naka kay wa na man sad c cleng
6pm pa mi nagbreak
3:35 AM nangita jud ko nimo, kaw pa!!
3:36 AM Caloy: naks... ingun bya ko nimo... nga 2nd shift ko... wla na pud ka nangumbaling... fa etch!!
3:38 AM me: nalimot ko tits! wa gud kas imong cube beh, diin kaha ka naglaag2x
Caloy: ay dah... ng toyi ko... bwaheheng
3:39 AM me: yuckkkkk!!
hahahah
wa jud ka kaagwanta! hmp!!
3:40 AM Caloy: ahsus... tawn sad nimo oi.... dli nlng jud ka ma joke jokle
hahay pero in fairness ... ambot oi... hot lageh ko ron
taweweng!!
3:45 AM me: lantan ka?!!
gipiskat sad c cleng. nyahaha

me: di man japun ka maminaw di ba?
kay gahi bya kag o
4:24 AM jOyamAe: wahahaha. mao sad. mosunod sa gusto. and mga prohibitions akng catalyst. the more badlongon, the more buhaton
4:25 AM me: so di nalang tka badlungon ganun?
4:26 AM jOyamAe: wehehehe. d pud sa tnang pnahon ana ko gurl
4:27 AM me: murag sa tanang panahon gurl!
mura jud
4:32 AM jOyamAe: aw d pud. birahan tka krn
4:35 AM me: try mo lang gurl
tan awon nato kinsay mabungog
4:36 AM jOyamAe: ayay. taas pko nmo gurl. gunitan ra nko imo ulo
4:37 AM me: ahahah!
try mo gurl..do it now
now na!
4:38 AM one karate kick lang tka
4:39 AM jOyamAe: out nko in 5mins
me: out na
then ari dayun..ky bagay ta
4:40 AM jOyamAe: ehehehe. hadlok ko. murag dako rba ka ug kumo dah
me: hahaha
jOyamAe: pero pwede ta rka sumbagon\, tas mosutoy lng dyn ko ug dagan
me: dli woi! gamay ra ni ;)
haha! sutoy ka dyan, cute raba kayo kag dinaganan im sure
blockingan tka
4:41 AM jOyamAe: ahahahahhaha. kahadlok nmo oy
wa lng ka kita nko nidagan gurl. runner bya tahon ko adtong grade one pko
me: hahaha
that was 48 yrs ago pa gurl
4:42 AM di pa mag stilleto ato panahona
4:43 AM jOyamAe: wahahaha. hoy, nakadagan na bya ko with heels, gilakag ko sa iro gurl. so mas pa kakusog ako dagan kng kaw na molakag, laliman ka halimaw molakag nmo?
me: hahahah
whats molakag gurl?
hahaha
4:44 AM jOyamAe: heheheh. mogukod gud
4:45 AM me: ah yeah
jOyamAe: bayaaaaa
out nko gurl
me: halimaw man sad ka gurl
out na diha
molakagay ta
hahaha
4:46 AM jOyamAe: wahahahaha
buh-bye
me: bye

me: musta mam?
jute.d.confabulator: hahay, mo out na ko
karon pa jd ka
12:59 AM me: next time nalang ;) cge out na! go! skoyla na didto, mahagbong nya ka sanginlan ta nimo :P
jute.d.confabulator: intrams ron oi
pasagad ay
me: aw mao ba. kaw, apil didto bsketbol

10:42 PM jOyamAe: wut time break?
10:46 PM me: um, 330?
jOyamAe: ok
- 35 minutes
11:21 PM jOyamAe: break
11:22 PM oist
11:26 PM hala oy, asa ka bah manang
11:30 PM me: tara?
jOyamAe: o11:32 PM oist 48years kau ay

5:15 AM jOyamAe: wen ta mg binayranan sa bet?
-13 minutes
5:29 AM jOyamAe: bruha. answer my dying question

11:05 PM Caloy: hoy mag break nata... if mag break...pra sayo mahumandghan pako humanonon .... Lechogas!
11:06 PM me: maldita!! unya nalang oi ky sakit pa ako lubot. 4pm nalang ?
Caloy: waaa... yaw nlng ... krun nah...
11:07 PM az in dghan pko humanon...
me: bag-o rako naglunch carl and uncomfy kos ako lubot jud
Caloy: dghan gpabuhat si mis______
me: lagi humana nalang sa na
11:08 PM buhata lang sa na, then at 4 naug ta balik ta ugma
11:09 PM Caloy: aw.. cge dli nlng ko mag break... kamo nlng unya... kysayo man gud ko out
11:10 PM me: cge nalang. mangluod man dayun ka abi TA naman ka! hmp!! Caloy: ahak... cgeg TA oi >:-S
me: aw, TM
Caloy: >;-(11:11 PM
me: hala pagrest nalang dha ky mkwaan ka basulon nya ko nimogipakonsensya tka
Caloy: >:-O huh? wat are u talking about?
11:13 PM me: haha wala11:14 PM
Caloy: ?:-J
me: mailto:!@$$@$@#
11:15 PM Caloy: S:-Q pag yosi oi na boang na
me: di sa ko ky makalanghap nya ka makadaut bya nas vivi nimo
11:16 PM Caloy: <:-O huh?? 11:18 PM me: ambot nimo carlo kalabaw Caloy: ?:-O huh?11:20 PM me: trabaho diha carlo, NTEhan tka ron - 7 minutes 11:27 PM Caloy: hilom.. >:-X
11:28 PM me: magsaba-saba diay ko
Caloy: shhhhh

cfallen.angel17: mangaon ta na!!
8:00 PM nag bakbakan na cla pacman??
me: tara? wala pa8:01 PM
cfallen.angel17: saon oi...bet nako and referee
me: morales ko
8:02 PM pusta anay?
cfallen.angel17: referee lgi ko 10k
me: bahala ka!!

10:42 PM Caloy: 3 na
10:43 PM me: :P
10:45 PM Caloy: borikat!!!
10:46 PM me: bugaw!!!!
Caloy: boring!!!
10:47 PM me: bo-ring...

5:32 AM Caloy: wla koy paki
me: ayaw
5:33 AM Caloy: bleeehhh!
me: :P
2:06 AM Caloy: borikat
-7 minutes
2:14 AM me: bading! eat ta 630
Caloy: break na ta oi mananaop!
2.21 AM me: saop! :P2:14 AM

me: dude! i like the jacket very much :) tenks
2:42 AM thefreeman: sakto ra sa imo dude?
3:12 AM me: yep! kewl kayo dude, pra bagyo
3:34 AM thefreeman: muadto kag baguio?

11:43 PM me: busy mam!!
11:44 PM jute.d.confabulator: yah mgkawat2x sa ko ug tuon
11:45 PM me: hala kawatan ay!!

10:33 PM Jean: hi dagul! miss u na!
10:34 PM me: haha! mahal!!! wana sad ko kta nimo....nakuto na ikaw? hehehe
Jean: heheheheh nalusa nahhh wahahhaheheheh
10:35 PM me: ah yeah! sayun ra na tudson..asa man ka dapit kay tudson tka using my mutant thumb :P
10:36 PM Jean: :P

2:08 AM me: i sed, routine na kayo ba: work, eat, work, eat hahay2:09 AM
lizzie.r.aceron: CORRRRRRRRECT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 as in tumpak jud ka!

10:12 PM me: gurl! u are alive!!! :P
10:14 PM jOyamAe: ghahahahahaahah. amew mn ka gurl uwi nko. buh-bye
me: ngek
10:15 PM cge layas!! wapa gani ko kita nimo gurl..
jOyamAe: wehhehe. mingawon d i? hahahahahha
10:16 PM me: gimingaw kos imong buhok! nyahaha

jOyamAe: baga face oy
4:47 AM me: huh!
jOyamAe: divorce ka jan
me: haha!4:48 AM
jOyamAe: yaks.. bitaw noh? it's good to know jud
4:49 AM me: haha uso jud ang divorce sa ila sa? reese, whitney, etc hay
jOyamAe: yes. especially to her. very whimsical4:50 AM
me: dah, nienter man katilaw nuon og tagam
jOyamAe: um, unsa ng nienter gurl?
4:51 AM me: ni-enter ni-join ba wa na sa inyo gurl?
4:52 AM jOyamAe: yikes. naa mn pero ni-enter guro. nalipat ko sa nienter uli nkow gurl buh-bye

12:03 AM cfallen.angel17: huy di pa mo mangaon??

1:53 AM me: um, napa diay tong tupad nako before?
maryper.ellen: k2 gurl na wer man
me: i heard man gud her name..gitawag
1:54 AM maryper.ellen: c liz pud di nya pud cya carry, clf centered daw
me: exactly if naa sya diri. natagbaw nato nato :D
maryper.ellen: me para sa ako snob jud cy wat u mean natagbaw
1:55 AM sa ato kasaba di man sad nato tagdon heeh
1:56 AM maryper.ellen: yeah and di nako cya pud feel tagdon oa ra kau cya
1:58 AM me: mao

11:16 PM me: 4pm nalang ta carl oi ky mao lang
11:21 PM Caloy: sus
11:22 PM me: geez
Caloy: kasamok... impale ka run
11:23 PM me: go try
Caloy: unya nlng ... kay murag lisud kay dako bya kag mata >:-S
me: now na!!!!

11:07 PM sona: hoi!
me: :P
11:11 PM sona: asa ka?
me: sto nino lagi hay
11:12 PM sona: ahmbot nmo..cge idagkot lng nya ko sosyal pud kamamaligya dah naa internet
me: hay layp. i dont like it when people stop believeing in practically everythin i say
11:17 PM sona: ok ok ok.. i believe you.
11:18 PM me: im not forcing u to...just dont argue, hehe
11:20 PM sona: ok wla lgi..hehehe
11:21 PM me: good ;)

4:37 AM me: oist! wa man kay tingog2x inday!
4:42 AM azir: inday heheheheh nalingaw ko tabi inday..heheh naa pa ba news ana? inday nice bitaw ang the grudge?
4:44 AM tubaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaag ehehehehehheheh as in mahadlok jud ka?
4:56 AM me: mahadlok jud ka!!! tan-aw namo oi ky kapoyan natong ungo didto hinuwat ninyo cge tabi!!
azir: hahahahah

2:56 AM me: yuck! mosakit og samot woi
Caloy: gurl.. naa nasad nabiktikma ... sa kaong pangaway
3:00 AM me: pagbisaya kuno gurl! wako kasabot
Caloy: naa nsad bah nabiktima.. sa akong cute nga panagway

9:08 PM me: 02e2996739
9:09 PM thnks
9:10 PM aleigh082002: oist okiez
me: tnks :D

12:02 AM me: pahilot ko beh? :D
12:03 AM delax: ok
me: tenks

5:38 AM Caloy: huhuhuhu... Dear gurlalaou... help me find a lover...am kinda like craving to have lovelife.. u know... maybe... am justrunning out of sex... hahaha
5:40 AM me: heh!

10:40 PM me: hide ur chatbox
10:41 PM maryper.ellen: k. as in gamay jud like ani?

1:50 AM Jean: gudnyt ka dyan! layo paka matog nooooh :()
1:59 AM me: mana nun ko tug XD tug nasad ko balik later
2:01 AM Jean: unsaonz hala ka sumbong taka ha
2:03 AM me: cge plsss
2:04 AM Jean: NTEhan taka ron.... :P
2:24 AM me: haha! ako nang linya tits :P
Jean: :P break nata...
me: sure

stop.right.now.thank.you.very.much

2008-02-25T16:25:00.000+08:00

This afternoon after watching the delayed telecast of the Academy Awards at the office, I switched to the ANC. And it was EDSA I celebration all over it. But the only thing that was really Edsa-est there is the background song, the Magkaisa. Other than that, the EDSA people power commemoration is nothing more than a shrine, Ramos' commemorative leap (i find this really stupid!), speeches from personalities like Cory Aquino (argh!), and the already lucrative business of street demonstrations. My head is spinning.

I even stopped watching news altogether. Because it's always about Jun Lozada. I dont care if he's telling the truth, there's just no point in telling it because we will never arrive at a conclusion anyway. So what's it for? Has there been one Senate inquiry that sees an end? None. So it's useless.

If it's about people power, then let the people rule. That's what the Edsa I is all about anyway. I don't think rallies, because they too have become a livelihood to most, can even help the situation. It's already so used and abused, and the people are tired already. I say, we should all grow up together.

If you're so into this inquiry, do you know that everytime our lawmakers sit their butts in their Senate seats, they get additional "honorarium" for it? Also, by watching it so much, you're not only inviting more ads for the tv networks that play it, you're also giving Lozada and his back-up singers a chance to become the country's next senators and president. Utang buot!

By the way, this blog turned 3 yesterday. From now on, I'll stop using more Is, Mes, and Mines here. Because this blog needs to grow up too. =)

binge eating at Rachos

2008-02-24T13:33:00.003+08:00

Sleep 'til you're hungry, eat 'til you're sleepy. ~Author Unknown

For the record, I did not say it. lol! It’s actually my kind of line. I love sleeping. I can even spend the entire night and day sleeping, if only I don’t need to work. I’m actually aiming to be as tall as Shaq. Hahahha…

Eating, on the other hand, is nonetheless my all-time favorite hobby. I love binge eating so much. There’s this eat-all-you-can resto in Casal’s Village, somewhere in Mabolo, which is perfect for food lovers like me. It’s a private place temporarily called “Rachos.” I was there with friends last Friday. It was supposed to be a “fasting” day, but the temptation was just so irresistible. For P150 you get to pick any food from the buffet table, that night the menu was seafood (at least there was no meat). And because I requested for it, there was pizza! And man, it was the thinnest-crusted pizza I’ve ever tried, and it was really really cheesy, creamy and yummy. For P150, I got almost the entire pie. Hahahah…

Because the owner is a friend of a friend (we were even given a discount), we were given strawberry- and pineapple-flavored cocktail drinks for free. I can’t wait to be back! There was the chocolatiest cake as dessert, part of the buffet, which I already ignored because my tummy was already about to explode the moment it was served. And the coffee, it was probably the best brewed coffee in the world. Already addicted to it, the next day I ordered brewed at Starbucks, and the taste is not even close to Rachos’. I think what I had that night is some home-made coffee (the lady owner personally prepares all the food there, btw), or it probably uses organic whatever substance that when added with my own brand of mixing (just the sugar), it becomes great-tasting. lol! Anyway, I still have to ask the owner for the recipe cos I’m thinking of buying my own coffee maker. And start my own coffee shop. Hek hek!

There are three tables inside the homey resto and everyone could stay longer than necessary. We stayed till past 11. There’s also a live piano performance that you can sing along with. I sure did not join in this part of the package because I was too engrossed with my wanting to eat it all. And besides, I was already sleepy after more than two hours of non-stop eating. The (discounted) P150 I paid for that hearty meal was all worth it, the heck if I sinned.

bride sues groom for running away

2008-02-22T18:13:00.000+08:00

Today’s headline of a local daily is about a bride filing a complaint versus her groom for ditching her at the altar and walking out of the church with another woman…

Hmmm…Ridiculous. But the complainant may have her own reasons for slapping the man she once loved (or still loves) for “damage suit for breach of promise to marry” (I wonder if there’s such a case), but she needs not humiliate herself any further. The guy left her while they were exchanging their vows. In front of the priest, he ran away with another woman. Isn’t that proof already that he really intended to leave her? Okay, moral damages or whatever damages applicable for their love affair gone awry, but if it’s gone, then let it be. Mao na’ng giingun nga, kung ayaw mo, huwag mo, dba? My suggestion to this woman, do what Christina Yang of Grey’s Anatomy did when Preston Burke left her in the altar. Yep, dance for joy! Lol.

Beach House and Lot for Sale

2008-02-21T19:38:00.002+08:00

Hear me play real estate agent today..

The White House

the back part of it

(the sea beyond it is best for snorkeling and fishing)

the living room

It's located in Dimiao town, that's an hour away by PUJ or less by v-hire from Tagbilaran. It's 6 years old. And apart from the caretakers, no one actually lives here. So it's basically unused (photos were taken just yesterday, Feb 20). The title is clean as the lawn and the surrounding of the entire place. The entire lot is more than 400 square meters, and is just a few meters away from the hi-way. It's actually huge. Plus, it's got a nice beach at the back. Inside it has 6 bedrooms and a library. Most of the rooms have their own baths, the master's has its own walk-in closet. If you want a virtual tour of the place, just contact me here: vatski (at) gmail (dot) com. This is really perfect for those who want to have a vacation house away from the buzzling city streets. Water and electricity are no problem. It's got two water systems, btw. No problem with cellphone signals, too.

Everything inside the house: beds, cabinets, e-fans, cable TV, ref, sala sets--one in the living room and another in the foyer, a gas stove, kitchen cabinets and utensils, tables and the dogs, also goes with the sale.

It's only P3M.

Interested? Email me.

so yesterday

2008-02-15T14:02:00.006+08:00

So it was v-day yesterday, and i sort of missed it. Again. Well, i've excuse for this year, i was busy with work. He he. hm. I'm actually tired right now. No, not from always missing it, damnit. Just tired from yesterday's work. I was in Argao the entire day, by the way. And Argao, if you want to know, is 66 kms away from Cebu City, or about a 2-hour ride by van. It was a whole day mini suroy-suroy sa Sugbu. We climbed mountains, attended 2 groundbreaking and 2 ribbon cutting ceremonies. And heard 10,000 speeches! This is actually why i chose this profession, bec when you get this kind of assignment there's always no room for dull moments. Yay!

I did not have a gameplan yesterday, i already watched Jumper the day before that, eh, so it was sort of a free day for me to do what i wanted to do after work. But free day, my ass, the Argao assignment (on top of another one in Naga City), which i thought was only good for a few hours, consumed my entire day. It was Valentine's day yesterday, everyone and almost everything in Argao made sure that I knew it. Text messages from friends, people carrying red roses and hearts, and greetings from people I met there were glaring reminders that it was hearts day (uhm, who says I'm trying to forget it???). Okay. And when you're Valentine-less, like myself, the occasion just comes and goes without you. And seriously, it does not matter at all. For the record, I don't like hearts or any heart-shaped things, and flowers. Just chocolates, hahaha...

It was nighttime already when I finally made it back home, and just before I could lay my aching back on my bed, a friend invited me over to this place. The very place where i passed by just an hour ago. Man, where is your sense of timing? Hahah...Okay, I don't have intentions to go out that day anyway. With my bone-tired body, bed is just the only place I'd rather be in. My bed. Then another text message came, this time from a close friend, inviting me to come over to this place because she was tired at home, and she wanted to breathe. I gathered her parents just had a fight that day, a Valentine's day of all the days! I really hate it when this friend worries a lot about her fighter parents. Ggrr, I know her mom loves her father, and vice versa, but I just don't understand it that amid all the love they have in their home these two still emotionally abuse one another. Is that part of loving too? Because it if is, I'll be glad if I'm completely taken out from the marriage list. Lol! So my reply to her: “Magminyo gani ta, simbako, di ta mag-ingun ana hap!”

The final text message for the day was from a workmate/friend which says: “Hey, (insert nick here)! According to friendster it's ur bday 2day. Is ths true?”

Nasad??? lol!

And my reply: “Mao ba? C frnster jud, wa ko kbaw ana da. Aku gift ha? ;-) But the idiot that is me, nangutana sad tawon: “birthday diay ron nako???” Sa huna-huna ra nuon. hehehe...

And guess what, it worked. The latest victim's message read: “Hahaha..I owe u a cup of cappuccino. :)”

Yay!

Ana lang! Hahahah...

And then Valentine's was over. Just like that.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The following are photos shot in Argao:

In Flagrante Delicto

Young love is sweet.

But 5o years later, nag-divorce na sila kay si lolo, boylet na ang type. hehehe

Happy belated Valentine's day, everyone. =)

My life is pointless

2008-02-12T19:07:00.000+08:00

Yesterday, a bloody Monday, I felt so bored at work so I went home at around 4PM, which is rare. I had been itching to watch Good Luck Chuck that day, but no one was interested to go out with me (I have so many friends from work and from the streets. Lol! But there was just no one who wanted to come with me that day, ambot nganu.). but fortunately, two of my childhood friends were also in the mood to watch a movie. So we went out that night. It’s a hilarious movie, I love Jessica Alba, but more than anything else, I felt great with just being inside the theater, with not a care about my uncombed hair, and my dirty feet in my equally dirty slippers. It’s like, I belong there. I't s almost the same feeling when I’m underwater. Even with the regulator crowding my mouth, I still make it a point to flash a smile to the fishes I meet. It’s weird, yes, but heck! But that's a selfish life.

I love to go out. You can even drag me to Timbuktu anytime of the day as long as my work is already done, and the trip is at your expense, I’m all yours. I feel the need to travel always, to go out and see the world, because that’s how I kill boredom. But after that, life is back to normal: pointless.

On workdays, I follow this routine: wake up at 9AM (M/L), take a bath, brush teeth, drink coffee, go to work. At work, check mails, surf the net for a while, do the real work, and eat or drink coffee in between work and chat with workmates. By 6/7PM, go home. At home, eat, brush teeth, prepare for bed, watch tv (only on Mondays and Tuesdays), and read the papers, then sleep. And it’s always the same everyday because no matter how I wish to change it, I can never bring myself to stop taking a bath or brushing my teeth. Seriously, I’m tired of doing both every damn day!

So it’s really pointless this way. I want change. I need to do some good in my life. Some direction before I get really old and bald and die. No, I don’t want to get applauded for my art. And no, I’m not getting married yet! Or I may never be going to that direction in this lifetime. Because I find that selfish too. Seriously. But, we can't tell.

My job makes me happy, alright. But it’s not about me. And I’m getting seriously frustrated.

I have no money. I want to do a lot of things for a lot of people who need these things. But I’m not rich.

Movies, coffee, being with friends and family definitely make me happy, but I think, I’m happier when I’m doing something.

But right now? I’m very hungry.

bantayan island in this blog

2008-02-07T18:09:00.000+08:00

MGA Walanghiya Productions

presents...

Patayin sa Sindak ang mga Bading
****
***

Direk: Okay, gurls, get ready for the shoot!

Bading 1: Tungod kay taas pa kag buhok nako, kinahanglan ka'ng ilubong nga buhi! Hmp!

Bading 2: Ilubong! (Like this, direk?)

Greta: (RIP)
Voice-over announcer: Greta, Greta...bumangon ka at sindakin mo sila...

Greta: Ay, tagalog?!? Aw, okay, boss. * winks*

Bading 2: 'Wag dyan! Nakikiliti ako dyan...

Greta: Tseh!
Bading 1: Di ko mahadlok nimo, I swear.

Greta: Sure?

Greta: Wah!

All: Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah...

The End

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

Okay, wa siya'y lami. hahahaha...So this is Sugar Beach, Sta. Fe, Bantayan Island.

To get there, if you're from Cebu City, you take a bus to Hagnaya, San Remegio, at the Cebu North Bus Terminal. Ceres Bus is P50/head and P88 for non-airconditioned and a/c, respectively. I suggest you take the airconditioned bus bec it's a two-and-a-half ride from the terminal to Hagnaya, it's really tiring. I've tried the non-aircon on our way home, and it's very fast (the kind that gets you praying for your safety every now and then. lol), and it does not smell good too (I smelt burnt tire when I was in it last Sunday). There are hourly trips to Hagnaya, and back (I think). From Hagnaya, there are slow and fast crafts that regularly travel to and from Sta. Fe. We took Island Shipping on our way there. P145 for economy, and P150 for the first class accomodation. We took the first class of course, singko ra gud deprensya.

Cleng2x and the gang!

We got there around lunchtime. And we had lunch at a carenderia. That choice was either that or an expensive eat-all-you-can resto. We were really hungry, but we are also seriously poor. Raw fish there, however, is cheap. So the following day, we bought our own raw food, and had it cooked at the resort (at Sugar Beach, it's P30/meal). This is way cheaper than indulging in an expensive restaurant. And as expected, nagkuwang ang rice. lol!

Ogtong Cave

Except for its beautiful beaches, there are not much to see around the island. Well, except for a number of very old houses along the streets (some are not even well cared for, and it saddens my heart. char!). We knew about Ogtong Cave, so before we indulged in some tanning activity on a high noon, we opted to see this site first. It's about 5 mins from Sugar Beach by trisikad (P10/head), and P100 for entrance. The cave is the best place to while away time, well, while the sun is still hot outside. We were lucky that afternoon, bec we had the place (and the guramis) all to ourselves. No, it isn't scary. lol!

Tribu Inno

Back to our beach. The place is so huge, and there were only about 3 or 4 groups that night (the crowd only started coming the following morning). So there was more than enough space for everyone to make bonfires, sirip-sirip, try skinny dipping (lol), or whatever activity that needs space and lesser stranger. And get drunk of course. joke!

Sunrise

This side of the world doesn't have sunsets, or probably bec there was rain hours before nighttime. But it has an amazing sunrise I've ever seen. It's even on a very slow pace that gives you time to catch every change of colors that the distant sun brings to the cloud formation. We were just standing there that one Sunday morning with our cams ready to catch the sun, and even before it finally rose, my card was already full. It was just amazing. I already said that twice, and I'll say it again, it was really amazing. =)

Babay, baybay

Vacation is over. Trip back home was scheduled at 1pm, so we had to leave the place at 12 to catch our boat. This time we rode in Super Shuttle Ferry, where the P140 ticket is like an hour inside K1 KTV, well, minus the KTV. lol! There is no airconditioning unit this time, but it has couches for everyone to sleep. And we did sleep during the one-hour trip.

There is no problem in going back to Cebu City, there are buses that take everyone back there. We did not realize that at first, we even raced with other young passengers from the boat to the terminal, only to find out, after getting bumped and all, that there were actually 3 buses waiting for all of us. Pfft! It was still fun anyway. If anyone would like to see Sugar Beach, here's the number: 09217755058.

Grazie per la visita

Hate Me...Not!

2008-01-31T17:08:00.000+08:00

I don't know if I'm lovable. If anything, I'm hateable. lol! It could be true, I really don't know. In more than one occasion though, I've overheard my mother telling her friends I'm nice, but that is my mother there talking about her eldest. Like, she could tell the world I'm pretty too. Hahaha! Well, I'm bad. I'm hated too. Our city mayor hates me, he does not even talk to me. He actually loathes me. lol! In college, our head doctor just did not want to be in the same place with me. I had no idea why. We met again last December, and from that meeting, it was still obvious that the feeling was the same. FYI, I did not touch her hair or whatsoever. I don't care, she's too old to be my friend. Ha-ha! My college teacher, too, he made me third in his "enemy list." Seriously.

In our neighborhood, there's an entire family there that just hates me and my guts! But I still keep coming to their place despite that. Wahahaha...Speaking of guts! And at the office, I'm still not talking to my boss, and some people. The boss may still hate me after that long time ago incident (so the feeling is mutual), while those some people...I just stopped talking to them. It's better that way, I think. I'm not guilty or something, bec first and foremost I didn't do anything to any of them. Or most probably, I might have done something to them, I just did not know it. Quite logical. lol! So okay, I'm obnoxious. And here is probably the manifestation of my being it:

Published in Banat News last Monday, this is an excerpt of what VATSKI had said there: "Mao ni karon ang atong bantayan, sa GMA pa ni'ng si Angel, gitarong gyud ni siya og da bisan pa og way ayo ni siya ngamoarte, maayo la'g posing-posing. Tan-awon ta ni ron kung mo-click pa ba ni'ng iyang pacute-cute sa ABS-CBN, ug kana iyang gayaya nga tinabian, tan-awon nato og di ba na siya atakehon og saway! Pero human na ni nga issue, naka-move on na ang GMA, gani pwerte naning layoa karong panahona, nga si Marian Rivera na ang nag-una niini nga bituon. Ug klaro kaayo nga layo ra kaayo si Angel kang Marian, pipila pa lang gud ka semana sukad niguwa kini as "Marimar" nisikat na'ng dayun, ug kun arte ug hitsura lay hisgutan, mura'g katabang rani niya si Angel."

Here are some of the reactions: (text messages are truncated)

**malagot jud q ni VATSKIE. Dauton jud niya ang ABS.

**Vats, im Amy from cebu! Dili lage ka tantong bagag lips! Kabati anang marimar! Og kanang marian nga imong gipanghambog. Bati anang nwng!

**hi gud pm im liza i have something to say 45 VATSKI? Hoy! 4 me cangel maaung moarte pero BASIN? CIGURO? Kulang ug training sa PIKASSTASYON? Hu knows..basin sak2 q..mao vatski let se nlng kung dli bamubudlot ng imong mata kun mkakta sa akting ni angel sa LOBO.
**2 vatski. Helo sa kanya. Pls. Ingna cya iya nawong lobot ni angel locsin. C marian maoy yaya. Gi unsa gud niya pagtan-aw. Ka yaya anag tingog. Naning pang mosayaw. Wa katunga c marianni angel vatski. Filipinahay lang. C marian kamao na mo karate? Gayaya ra man na. Klaroha vatski.
**Hi! Gar @ vatski. E adres rani akong message ni vatski. Pataka lngna cyag buka sa iyang baba. Unsay morag katabang c angel. Ni marian.Wa cya kyape! C marian maoy yaya og tingog. Sum-ol nawong. Spanish manta. Na amaw nas vatski nga action specialist manas angel. Nakalog nacya? Hooy gising vatski.

**2 vatski. 4 ur information vatski. C angel vice president sa MUAY TAI. Sa thailand. Basin epa judo nya tika ni angel locsin. Yaya sa emong mata! Hap ka? Posing jud sha kay model man iya rule sa LOBO. Nya mahimong wite wolf eg takdol.

And the winner:

Vatski unsa ka taw o iro u hav no ryt 2 judj my idol angel bsin ikw ang boy ni idol nko u sems ur iliterate dts y dont judge ha kinsa rka?U have no ryts r u deaf.

And to VATSKI, good luck!

my gameplan for this year

2008-01-29T19:22:00.000+08:00

The only thing that's on my head right now is this:

The Hanging Coffins of Sagada, Mountain Province.

Just a few hours ago, I came across a blog of someone who's been here. I am so jealous to the nth power! All my life, aw, since I learnt about the place after seeing it featured in Magandang Gabi Bayan, I've been telling myself I have to see this place in the future. That was a long time already, and I'm still not closer to that dream. Poor me.

I can be there. I will be there before the year ends, that's a promise. But I can't be there alone, hello? lol! So I need company. Guys (friends! utang buot!), for your information, the trip to Sagada via Baguio is not that expensive.

I've done quite a research today, and I gathered that a Cebu Pacific 4:00Am trip from Cebu-Manila (and vice versa) is only P288 (surcharges and other taxes are excluded though, so this is going to reach about P1,500, or even less). The roundtrip ticket is only P3,000! That's not bad, dba? And if we book early on, we sure can get a discount. We should go there before summer!

From Manila, we take a bus from some terminal there (I already have numbers of the bus lines with trips to and from Baguio) to get to Baguio. From a forum site, I learned, we pay P700 (more or less) for the five-hour trip. Back and forth, that's going to be P1,400. Again, that's not bad.

At the city proper we can get a hotel or a pension house. I've never done an inquiry on it, but I heard from friends who've been there, pension houses are cheaper. So we go for that nalang. Food is cheap too. I like. While there, we can try horseback riding at Wright Park, which I think is only about P100. Then we can also try boating too, if you like. But we should not go out of Baguio without seeing the Diplomat Hotel. It's only a jeepney ride away from the city proper, or so said a friend who's seen it. And entrance fee is only P50/head. I've sent an email to the local government there, and I'm hoping to get us a tour guide when we get there. Okay, I'm dreaming. Seriously, the place shoud NEVER be missed.

As for transportation, flag down rate for taxi is the same here in Cebu, but not like Cebu, it's only P1.50 for every 100 meters. There's a company that offers a tour package, which uses a cab, for only P1,800 (2,000 the most) for an entire day of sightseeing. Nice offer.

When done with Baguio, we must all proceed to Sagada. That's about 6 hours from Baguio by bus. I haven't inquired about the fare, but according to the blogger (who's been there), the local government there can easily be contacted for information about tours, et al. She already gave me their contact number that will be needed for reservation purposes, bec, again according to her the blogger, we have to reserve first so our trip will be planned out, also for our convenience. It is the LGU that gets us a tour guide, who will then get us to Sagada's famous tourist attractions: Sumigang Cave, the rice terraces, the Hanging Coffins, among others. The trip to Lumiang (where there are also coffins) and to the cave costs P400 (per head). To the Echo Valley, the place of the hanging coffins, and to other places is P300 each. I don't know if you like mountain trekking, as for me, I'll sure enjoy it. Kapoy siguro, pero I sure won't mind. This is something we should all do for a change.

As for room rates, there is a place where we can stay for at least a night for only P200/head/night (two nights would be more fun!). There's a more comfortable place, the St. Joseph's, but it's quite expensive. But if majority would opt for it, why not!

To sum it up:

1. P3,000 (roundtrip plane ticket)+
2. P1,400 (two-way bus trip)+
3. P500 (pensio house room)+
4. P700 (tour guides in Sagada)+
5. P200 (jeepney fares)+
6. P500 (food)=

about P6,000. That's only a rough estimate. It could go up, or down. But that amount can already take us to and from Baguio, with a detour in Sagada. We still have two months to save up. Anyone who would like to join me? I'm giving away a free Lipton Milk Tea for early registrants. He-he!

Oh, I don't like this thing a bit. I tried it this afternoon bec I did not see any coffee at the office, and it was offered for free by a friend...and even before it touched my lips, I already felt like I was gonna throw up. First, it's milk, second, it's tea. I don't like both. Bow.

So anyone? I mean to Baguio?

stamps

2008-01-27T16:01:00.000+08:00

Most of these are from my mother. I was in high school when she asked me to throw her booklet of stamps away because it was already worn out by age, and me being an"environmentalist" who keeps things even what most people already refer to as trash decided to keep the contents instead, and junked the old booklet. I've been a lover of old things, and because most of the stamps are dated 1920's and even older, I was inspired to continue the collection (and eventually stopped because it isn't that exciting anymore). So that's the story of my stamps, which I wish would buy me an outlet of Starbucks one day. Hahaha!

one moment

2008-01-23T14:34:00.000+08:00

"A comfortable chair isn’t revolutionary. But it gave people a place to sit. Or strike up a conversation. Something as simple as a chair changed the way people drank their coffee.

Suddenly, it’s not just a chair anymore. It’s a welcome mat. A hug from a friend or the beginning of a friendship. And it’s never the same thing twice."

Okay, it's from Starbucks 2008 planner. I miss coffee.

Sinulog 2008

2008-01-21T16:01:00.000+08:00

The grand parade. If you can't afford the ticket (P350 is the cheapest) for the Cebu City Sports Center (commonly referred to as Abellana) performances, you can position yourself at any of the parade routes, and you still get to see the live action up close. This is also the best time to take some good shots of the dancers.

Though I'm not saying my shots here are good. What I'm saying is, I feel good for my job. he-he!

Waiting angel. I like this one very much. One of the stars of a performing group of which name I forgot.
Nice spot. But if I were this kid, I'd surely go home, and eat leche flan nalang.

This is Lee's new jeans.
Framed.
Orange kiddos in action.

Rain. It didn't go away until nighttime came. But nothing stopped the show.

The Las Vegas-like performance of the Cebu City team headed by first lady Margot Osmeña. It was capped by a 10-minute (M/L) fireworks display. It really felt like Vegas.

A view from Club Ultima's 19th floor, where we had our dinner at Wan Shang Lo resto (a Christmas gift a month late, salamat very much *wink*). From here you can still see throngs of people going on about the very busy streets of the city particularly those leading to the party places like in the Mango Ave., Fuente Osmeña, Ayala Center, or just around the corner where car parking is free (for those who've wheels and girls with them like what we've seen on our way out of Ayala--after a quick stopover at Starbucks. Oh, I'd have wanted margarita that night, but crap!--where skinny girls were playing tong-its while on the other side were their partners drooling over sexy female passersby. Ha-ha!). Anyway, that has been my Sinulog for this year. Ciao.

Bojol Trip

2008-01-18T19:30:00.000+08:00

Got a chance to be in Bohol again. It was last Wednesday, a free trip, food and lodging included. Like in our visit last month, the one we had two days ago was nothing sort of a leisure trip. It was business as usual. But since we were already there, and with a camera in tow, we made that business trip a little fun as the hours went by.

This is the back part of the white house, owned by my friend's family. This is where I tried to catch some fish Wednesday afternoon, but dusk came I still got nothing except for a small stone. Yes, stone! Sayang ang paon, tsk!

The electricity was cut that night, and we were in the mood to party with the momos in the house. And party we did. lol!

This looks like an altar, but it isn't. Drama effect ra's kandila.

It was only for the love of fun. But I think, some stranger just couldn't help but be a part of the shooting. We heard this rustling noise from the doorway, which we first thought was from the helper's, but when we glanced at the direction where the noise came, no one was there. Strange.

Apart from that incident, there was nothing exciting that night. I just wish Diplomat Hotel would come my way soon. Soon!!!

Ang kabaw ug ang White House.

The Diplomat Hotel in Bagiuo City.

i wish i were filthy rich!!!

2008-01-14T17:01:00.000+08:00

An Angel With Another Angel. No, this is not motherhood at a young age. This girl here is a grade two pupil. Like, she goes to school on weekdays, and begs in Fuente Osmeña on weekends. Quite an impossible stunt for a child her age, huh! But does she have a choice? None. She's the second child, the oldest is 12, watching the rest of their younger siblings. They are nine, and this smaller one here, barely out of the womb, is the youngest. Her mom is elsewhere, while dad is in jail. Poor kid.

To help her, try this: Children's Hour.

morality crumbles

2008-01-13T18:27:00.000+08:00

it was past 10 when our bus that took us to and from Bogo City dropped us in Fuente Osmeña. I was kind of hungry, so i decided to get some food at a mall nearby. i was walking my way up to a skywalk that connects to Robinson's when i saw these two kids doing something just right there in the dirty floor of the public infrastructure. at first i thought they were only playing the regular child's game, but i heard the moan escaping from the smaller girl's mouth (or was she faking it?),...Whoa! what these two girls, about 10 or younger, were doing actually also got other passersby's attention. i've already heard reports of very young children actually having sex in the sidewalks, and, yes, in the covered skywalks, too, but to see it for myself, even if it was only a "play" is still a shock. These are kids, they should be at home doing homeworks or watching "kokey" or "marimar." they must have seen their parents while doing it. their parents should be crucified!

still not over with what i just saw, on the opposite side of the bridge, i heard from a passing male stranger this: "hubaga, ah!" Shit! I took a quick look at the guy's face, and he was really some rapist! And he was just too casual with his thing. Crap, crap! I went down the stairs as quickly as I could, and when I reached the landing, I faced him again to supposedly give him an "F" sign. But I noticed he was still watching me...Damn you!

i was supposed to spend an hour in Fuente with a friend (there was a live band playing that night) and have coffee later that night, but with what just happened i decided to go straight home, minus my dinner.

I felt scandalized. but more than anything else i feel sad for it all, for fuente that is no longer a safe place where you could walk alone even during the early evenings, or for any streets in Cebu City where jerks go around waiting for their next victim. and for the kids too, as i said, they should be home.

the Starbucks 2008 Planner

2008-01-10T13:13:00.000+08:00

is in my hands already. Thanks to those who drunk coffee with me (some against their will, others were just lured into...not my fault anymore, you're already grown-ups) or those who just provided the money (lol) so I could afford the expensive praline mocha frap to fill the other side of the card. This other side of the card is the hardest part to finish, most probably why Starbucks has changed the rules a bit. I'm tired of discussing. So anyway, I'll share this award (okay, laugh!) to fellow coffee drinkers and friends namely bebet, te malou, yang, juter, daizuke, rhey, miss divine, hosier and her friend, christine (who both came just in time. if not for you guys...gee!), and everyone else who's been so helpful (wink). I'm truly grateful. I swear.

See here, I immortalized our prize which is just as well.

Because I don't know where it is now. lol!

ang pati

2008-01-08T17:32:00.000+08:00

One morning last week before I went to work I saw this cute little white dove inside the house. It was just standing there in the sala on its cute little dainty red feet (or are they claws?), with not a care in the world. But when I started moving about the place, going into the kitchen to prepare my coffee, the little thing jumped and flew. Eps, ayg langas diha. Then it landed on the area where the mugs are placed, and it flew back to the sala again when I got there. Ggrr..di taka unsaon, wui! When I was done with my thing in the kitchen, already with a fresh mug of coffee in hand, the thing went with me on my way back to the sala to get my things. I was quite bothered with its constant flying here and there, and it’s just not my thing to watch a poor creature being like in a cage, so I opened the door for it to fly free. And it did. When I placed my empty mug down at a nearby table I saw this note from my mother that read: “Ta, ayaw na hilabti ang pati kay kuhaon na ni Tito Benny unya.” Toink!

my collection of whatnots

2008-01-04T13:18:00.000+08:00

Happy New Year, everyone! I thought I was never gonna blog again. Got tired lately, and bored, and big! lol! But last night, as I was cleaning the room in the apartment we're renting, in prep for our transfer anytime this week, I saw some personal stuffs I thought should merit a space in this beautiful blog. lol! So here, ladies and gentlemen, my small collection of whatever things!

I say small because what I have here are just a handful yet. Not that I'm planning to collect more though, or we'll never know. There was not even an intention to collect these things in the first place...it just so happened that I've got friends who give me what I like to have. Yes, a cashless collection. He-he!

Like these items here. The black Starbucks tumbler is courtesy of joyamae. She did not willingly give it to me though. It was like it was already in my hand, and she was so far away to grab it from me, so she had no choice but to give in to my plea, and I thank her for being so game (wink). The new Starbucks mug, on one hand, is a gift by daizuke. He refuses to call it that though, but heck! I will get more before he gets even with me. Hehehe! But seriously, this is one thing I've been itching to have since last year, and daizuke, tenkyu! (bow) However, this mug will remain in that dusty corner of my room until sickly tummy gets back to normal, hm. Got sick again, really bad.

So here. The little "collection" of meds in my room (and in my bag, I always carry some everyday) has doubled its size. Almost half of them are for the tummy, and the rest are for headaches and allergies. I hate being tortured by pain or any discomforts, so I always have some meds in handy, because you can never know when the damn feeling strikes. So you see, this little collection of drugs really helps a lot.

And oh, the Coca-cola collectibles! It started with two pairs, then they started growing, and still growing. I think the promo is still going on. At first I thought they were cute, but when I got my first pair, I was kind of disappointed. But anyway, I'm keeping them somewhere for who knows I may have my own shop of collectibles one day. lol!

The postcards. Like the rest of the stuffs here, there was no plan to make this as a collection. I just bought at least two (about P2 each then) everytime I was inside a bookstore if there was not enough money to buy a good book. It started in college, and from then on I developed this habit of asking from friends and relatives postcards sent to them by their correspondents from abroad that they did not want to keep. I since stopped the hobby though, got bored, and besides I already can afford to buy good books. :)

Jackets! Not really a collection. I don't have many of them, it just so happened that I got bored last night and started arranging things inside my closet, and there! (some of them were actually elsewhere before I took this shot, I had to "beautify" them for their first public appearance together as a group. lol!) Most of what I have here are what we call "gi-harbor" from friends. Some are ukay-ukay, and one or two were bought. These jackets are for rainy days, because I don't like umbrellas. But they are more useful in hiding big tummy especially when it's bursting...like today. :D

So these are (not really) my collection. The biggest I have so far is my album of stamps. I just couldn't find them last night, probably it was brought already to our new place (bec we are transferring again, pfft!). But I'm posting all my stamps here soon, in hopes to get big bucks from them. hahah! Okay, that's it.

knocked up

2007-12-29T15:47:00.000+08:00

Kids' Party (Dec 24)

2007-12-28T13:53:00.000+08:00

This is the first time that we held it in a public place, as it was supposed to be just inside the compound like in the past 6 years. The swelling number of kids this year, however, prompted us to look for a bigger venue. And the street was the only place we could think of, it was free anyway. A bit of Christmas decors here and there was all we did to turn the place into a party venue. We also got two "No Entry"signs from the barangay, and placed them on both ends of the road, just in case. And when the clock struck 6pm the party kicked off.

It wasn't really that big. There was food, spag and sandwiches and orange juice, but was only good for 50 kids, and more came than expected, so it was really a riot. But my friends in charge with the food committee managed to solve the problem, by getting additional supply from homes. I gathered later on, they also victimized mine.

All in all, the party was a success. For this year, though, we were not able to give them toys each (we only had a few for the games), because of financial constraint, so instead, we added more candies to each of their goody bags. And I think the kids still loved it. For all those who've helped us in this little work we have, thank you very much. :)

my life's a beach

2007-12-26T16:19:00.000+08:00

Malayan Beach (Poblacion, Talisay City), Dec 25, 2007, 5:45pm

I remember as a child I walked on the beach a lot, and took a dip in the salty waters everyday of my young life, bec we used to have a house by the sea. That actually explains why I love the beach and the sea so much even if we already left the place decades ago. In this particular beach alone, I've swum here a million times, with my childhood friends and family. Just a walking distance from my place, I just realized that although the place is littered with a lot of trash after a day's romance with the beachgoers during a weekend, a Christmas day for this picture taking, it still has its charm on me. The ever calm waters that greeted me that late afternoon while I zoomed my way here for a relaxing treat with a friend, and the splendid view of what remains of the sunset far beyond it were just so amazing, I even thought I was elsewhere. :)

the sore throat on a merry Christmas

2007-12-23T18:29:00.000+08:00

i probably got this sore throat--which prevented me from getting enough rest lately--from eating sweets the past days, and probaby from drinking just too much tubig lang naman. but this does not mean hindi tuloy ang pasko. tuloy na tuloy, in fact, we're already done packing all the gifts for tomorrow's party for the kids, both the indigent and the not-so indigent (that's how we play this game, patas). and so, we are now broke, which means goodbye, Starbucks planner. lol! fyi, i'm still 9 stickers away from that thing, so tabang, people.

anyway, sore throat or not, we should all have a merry Christmas, I will definitely have a happy Christmas no matter what (i'm actually in charge with the cooking tomorrow, so this already smells a fun Christmas to my family and to a few people i've invited over to share my treat). so you guys better have one, too. to all of you: fellow bloggers, friends, and former friends, have a happy Christmas!

sensya na, tao lang moment

2007-12-21T14:20:00.000+08:00

Sa usa ka radio station, napaminawan ni namo sa akong higala samtang nagsakay sa taxi ganiha lang.

Guy caller: Unsa diay imong work?
Girl caller: Cashier.
Guy caller: Ha?
Girl caller: Kahera gud.
Guy: Aw! Akoa, dili ka mangutana?
Girl caller: Unsa man imo work?
Guy caller: CG!
Girl caller: Ha?!?
Guy caller: CG gud, security guard.
Ako ug ang akong higala: TOINK!!!

giving

2007-12-19T18:28:00.000+08:00

I was watching Oprah a few days back, and chanced upon the guesting of former US President Bill Clinton in that show. The guy actually has a new book entitled “Giving.” From what I gathered, the book is a compilation of inspiring stories of groups or individuals who have taken an extra mile to reach out to their fellows. One of the people Clinton featured in his book is tennis superstar Andre Agassi, who, I just learned from that interview of Oprah with him later in the show, operates a school--the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy—for the community's challenged children. It was great listening to the retired tennis player talk about how he envisions the school to become a venue for these kids to start hoping and dreaming, it even uses Winston Churchill's famous quote: “Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never.” in its website. This school, which assists every kid there to overcome all the challenges and be responsible, is now considered a model institution in Nevada where it is located. According to Andre, affecting these kids' lives for a lifetime gives him more joy than what his 21 years of playing tennis did. Wow!

Another person who was that day's episode's (and this modern day) heroes was a senior college student, who first guested in the show in 1997, when she was still a little girl. From a quick replay of that episode I learned that that little girl started a small charity, with the help of her father, wherein everyone in their neighborhood was asked to give a penny for her then small foundation dedicated to the indigents. It was actually from that episode, and from the girl's spirit to do something, that Oprah was inspired to follow what the little girl was trying to accomplish. The saying that goes, if you can why can't I truly applies to that situation. And ten years later, Oprah's Angel Network Foundation has funded 60 new schools in 13 countries. While the little kid's “penny” foundation has actually gathered US$9M as of that interview. A wower!

Other “givers” who guested in that episode were couple Matt and Jessica Flannery who founded Kiva.org, a website that helps people from developing countries to start their own small business by getting a loan from individuals from across the world. One lender was also there to say that the organization has not only helped her help other people through its website, but made her find the meaning of life, in the process of giving. Her $25 dollar loan to someone in South Africa some years back was already returned to her with interest, it is in fact multiplied to hundreds of dollars after lending it to several other individuals in need of capital money. This is more than just investing, it is giving and seeing how that simple click of the mouse changes the life of those people from the opposite part of the world. So great!

And for this part of the world, exactly in my city, we also have our own brand of giving. We're on our 7th year now. This Christmas eve my friends and I will be hosting a party for the kids in the neighborhood and those from outside it. This is where we have a little party with games, some food, et cetera, and at the end of it, we hand out gifts to each of them. As of this morning, there are already 189 in the list, and according to my friend, I should keep extra packs “just in case.” I expect more than 200 kids this year, they were about 180 last year, and there's always an increase of the number, I've since noticed that. There'll be no more toys this year though, because Unitop no longer sells cheap toys, and there's no more time to search for shops with toys within our budget. If we continue the “tradition” of putting inside each pack a toy, then I'll be broke starting today until months from now. That's scary, I don't like! (But we need donations. Seriously.) So instead, we'll be replacing the toy with more candies and whatever chocolate-flavored bits I can think of later on when we do the real shopping. I started the first shop yesterday (I could no longer stall it bec the clock is ticking!), and wowowee, shopping bags filled both the passenger's and the back seat of the cab, cramming!. That was not even half of what we need. What I'm actually looking forward to right now is the night of the 24th. I don't care if we are fast forwarding the night where I'll definitely lose my voice from shouting (200 kids, yay!), I really don't care. I just want to skip the shopping part for goodness' sake! So there, we are also giving because...wala lang! :)

Happy Christmas!!!

nightlifing

2007-12-15T20:14:00.000+08:00

The nightlife is both expensive and tiring. Im actually still groggy now from last night’s laag. But it’s always good to go out once in a while. The last time I was up for more than 24 hours was last month when I was in Subic, but last night was way too much fun compared to that out-of-town escapade.

The story (I might as well say the details here for future use. Lol!). After the company party, eight of us went straight to Mango Square to chill out. We had a kiddie party that night, and most of the people who attended were in kid’s costumes, and a few of those kiddie-costumed workmates joined us in the second leg of the fun. So imagine our group joining the “properly” dressed individuals in the Square. We actually did not worry that thing until our cabs got to the area. Almost everyone standing in the square was looking at my workmates who first got out of the first cab. The car brought in two of the four girls in costumes, one was with a simple girly outfit with two red stars on top of her turban while the other one was in a baby girl attire complete with a milk bottle and a pacifier clipped on her baby blouse (plus two balloons attached to her baby bag!). As for us in the second cab, we got the chance to inhale the moment while still inside the cab and saw the expression of the people who were looking at our friends. Oh God, for laughing out loud! But we were all game that night. So we nonchalantly walked towards Gimik Barkada to start a night of drinking and videoke. But the place was already full-packed by the time we got there so we moved to Numero Doce (I don’t remember the exact name), but it was also full. We actually met some stares and giggles from the people we passed by on our way there, one gay could not hide his amazement at us that he said to my workmate, who had these two stars in her head,:”Teh, nindot ta na og naay suga.” And I answered,:” Wa na may battery,” with a sad face. I was wearing a Santa hat with blinking starts on it while at the party, maayo nalang akong gibilin. The entire square was just too public for our group, so we looked for an enclosed area where we could have fun minus the stares and the questions.

First stop was Beat Family KTV. This is just in the area of Mango Square, at the back part of Gimik. Each room is P150/hour (on the weekend), and we stayed there for three hours singing all the songs in the list. I did not know until that night Jasmin Uy could sing so well the national anthem ng mga bading--“Hindi Ako Bakla.” Well, she chose the song for our new workmate, the most bakla in the group, but she ended up singing it herself because she knew the song full well that she did not need to glance at its lyrics on tv, while the rest of the girls were dancing, and grinding. Dear, winner imong show! Hahaha! It was actually a night to remember, singing in a concert-performance level of Spice Girls hits (complete with the correct dance steps, lol!), even heavy metal and Tagalog ones gipatulan. The room is approximately 3x5 meters, it was too small for 8 people (plus one later that night), but it was exactly what we needed to exhaust it all. It only happened once in a while, you know.

Past 4am we jumped to a tapsilogan in Guadalupe. This requires a good amount of walking from the square to Boulevard (near the Capitol) to supposedly catch Carlo’s Batchoy, but it was already closed by the time we got there. So we had to take a cab from there to the tapsilogan, which is just P32.50 away from where we hailed it. We already forgot how to walk at this juncture, so yay! Only four of us got to this part, the others had to go straight home after the concert and too much water drinking (unfortunately, Nature's Spring water in that videoke place has got some “drugs” in it, or so my workmate said after it got her nerves fiery on the first our of the show that actually resulted to her transforming every pop song she chose for herself into a heavy metal one.) It was really a riot!

The tapsilogan. It would have been the best time to drink coffee to give me another hour of strength for my travel back home, but the darn place had no hot water as of that moment. Crap! In fairness, the food is really good, and it’s cheap. There were actually several people enjoying their fill, after a long night of beer drinking, while we were there. And we were still there when the sun rose. Too bad I could not appreciate it, but I had to say to my workmate whom I shared the cab with, at least we got to see the sunrise. That was actually rare for the both of us. I actually could not see it with my problematic eyes, but at least. Fun ended when I hit the bed at 6am.

The Spice Girls!!!

2007-12-12T14:51:00.000+08:00

A series of concerts highlights the girls' comeback. But for those who can't make to any of these performances, like this blogger, they have a special treat for us. The coolest music video of their first single (after the hiatus) Headlines, that is now obviously making waves in the music mainstream after climbing number 10 in today's Myx's Top 20 countdown (the reason why I almost got late in this morning's engagement!), from number 17 last week. It's plain obvious that these girls still have that girl power thing, I miss them! Their site--http://www.thespicegirls.com/--has also been updated for their fans, and it now includes blogs by each of the girls (I just wish they'd continue posting in the days to come). I wasn't so busy the past few hours and here I did an extra effort of compiling some quotable quotes from them. Here we go...

Last week we performed at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. It went brilliantly and was well scary. It was the first time we'd performed together since 1998! The response was overwhelming. The crowd were cheering so loudly when we came on stage, I had to hold back the tears. My legs went all stiff and at one point if I hadn't been standing next to Emma I would've fallen over! Not a good look.--Mel C

Let me tell you, the Spice Girls are now Spice Women – full, sensual and stronger through their life experiences. It’s fantastic to be around the humour, and although the pressure is on, being part of a group is a wonderful thing. I receive a lot of support and encouragement from the other girls.--Geri

Rehearsals are going really well, I can’t believe that there are only a few weeks until the first show in Vancouver. It’s really scary but exciting at the same time. David and the boys have been laughing at me because I’ve been wandering around the house listening to my iPod and practising the routines. We are including some parts of the old routines but bringing them up to date a bit.
All of the kids have been down to rehearsals. We have an area where they all hang out… its a Spice creche! My boys are so excited about the tour, they can't wait and I'm really looking forward to them seeing me up on stage. I just hope I don't get over emotional when I see them!---Victoria

I’m back in LA now as I’m Dancing With The Stars. I was so pleased with the judges’ comments this week. I was really nervous about the performance as I had such little time to practice but I think the other girls brought me luck. I really enjoyed dancing to Spice Up Your Life. My dancing partner Maks was with me in the UK so that we could practice our routine in-between takes of the video. Although I think the other girls scared him a bit – but that’s what Girl Power is all about.--Mel B.

With each show I'm getting more confident singing live but during Mama I got so carried away looking at the video playing behind us of all the mothers and babies that I forgot some of the lyrics! Mel B also has a thing for pinching our bottoms… which makes us all giggle!--Emma

bad parenting

2007-12-06T12:03:00.000+08:00

my Christmas wishlist, among others

2007-12-03T13:01:00.000+08:00

A pair of Crocs cleo sandals. This is quite expensive but I saw some people's feet looking good in it, and I'd like to have one pair, too. I know my feet are not dainty, but at least the brand would compensate for that. lol! Seriously, it's perfect for me, I who love to go to work in slippers. It's P1,600, more or less. With my current situation? Nah, I can't afford it yet.

A surfing suit. A women's suit almost exactly as this one is about P2,000 in Speedo. This is really good for fun dives. I've never bought any clothing of this amount, so forgive me, self, if we'll just have to wait for that most wanted item to be given to us as a gift. Anyway, Christmas is almost here. Btw, SM has a Speedo outlet.

A mask and snorkel set. It's a little over P1,000 in Speedo. I was supposed to buy one before we traveled to Camiguin last October, but a friend rescued me then into spending some hard-earned cash by lending me his own set. I just hope someone would do the same before I finally get the impulse to buy one. I mean really buy one for me. Pasko bitaw. ^-^

A few days ago, I saw a roll bag that was really cool. When I checked the price, it's over P4,ooo. It's Lacoste, my bad! I told a friend about it, and she said she'd give me a first class imitation of the thing as a gift. I so understand. At least, I've something to look forward to for myself this Christmas. Yay!

To the Ukay-ukay shops...

Yesterday, my friend and I went to the ukay-ukay shops at our place's commercial district. Trip lang, we always do that when we're bored, and when there's nothing good to watch in the movies.

I got for myself a nice bag (not the fancy one, please) for P100, and when I googled for the brand's name, weeeh...jackpot! I didn't know about the Jill Stuart brand until today. He-he!

The next grab is a pair of cargo shorts for P70. My friend is really good at haggling, lol!

A Nokia 1100i. This one was bought at a mall, just a walking distance from the ukay-ukay shops. I had no intention of buying just one yet, well, until my old phone finally retires. But the price was already a come-on, so I immediately bought it without second thoughts. I really don't know how much this old model costs these days, but if to compare it to those of the nearby cell shops that sell reconditioned units, the price I got for my brand new model is almost a steal. I got mine at RC Goldline for only P1,650. Other shops sell the same yet second-hand model for more than P1,800. Who are they kidding??? And to think these shops, RC Goldline in between them, are just close to one another. We were really having fun that day.

love and care

2007-12-02T18:30:00.000+08:00

" Love and care" is Meddah Spa, that's the very one in Crossroads, Banilad. And they sure give you that, from the sauna down to the last minute of the 90-minute session. I (together with some friends from work) last Monday availed for ourselves the stone massage. Funny thing is, while we were at the sauna, where you can see that heating machine with stones on top of it..., well, you'll get the drift later. And we finally settled to our respective beds, and heard the sounds of the stones from some bowl, I heard some laughing from one of the girls, and screaming when the stones hit their backs (I even screamed a hot stone touched my skin. lol!). Ang mga pango, nituo diay when I told them the stones they would be using on us were exactly the ones heated in that sauna chamber. lol!

Well, it was a very relaxing experience. Thanks to Meddah Spa. Sa uulitin. :D

Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium

2007-11-30T15:20:00.000+08:00

Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium

Natalie Portman, Zach Mills, Dustin Hoffman

The magic dies when you stop believing it. That's what I understand about the film.

mad man

2007-11-29T13:25:00.000+08:00

"Trillanes, comrades holed up at Makati hotel." That's the banner story of inquirer.net, as of this blogging. For those who haven't had the chance to watch the live coverage of this new stunt of Trillanes, well, the guy along with his minions walked out of their trial today and marched through the streets of Makati calling for the ouster of GMA. Wow! I wish everything was that easy. The easy way out, I mean. Well, Trillanes has been known for that for years.

Anyway, is he mad? The President was here yesterday for a Christmas party with the media. By the looks of her face, she was really tired. The bagyo, the earthquake, the impeachment raps, all hurled to her. And she's only, how tall is she? I'm quite taller than the President, and I can't even take the little problematic situation we have at home, that for a number of times in the last few weeks I've been thinking of quitting (by quitting, I mean, being independent). And here, this person, with her size and age, has to bear all the burdens that these people of Trillanes mind will like to hurl at her everytime the opportunity arises because she "continues to violate the Constitution of the Philippines repeatedly.” We still have that department that takes care of all our grievances like allegations and things like that. But Trillanes might have missed that important fact. Or he would not be doing this easy way out thing over and over again. But the fact that he was elected as a legislator should have given him at least an idea that everything should be placed in the right perspective first, bec change doesn't happen overnight. That if we want a new president, we vote for him/her. We don't always oust whoever sits in that post, bec that makes me mad as well. I might as well be walking out. lol!

the balikbayan

2007-11-26T13:04:00.000+08:00

JUST before noon when I got here at the office, a workmate/friend announced that Lando is coming back. Another workmate echoed her announcement. So I checked inquirer.com, and voila! "Lando’ to reenter RP as ‘Mina’ exits." He sure likes it here, nagbalikbayan, eh. Mayta naay pasalubong nga maayo. lol! Anyway, have a grand time, dhong!

the noselift job

2007-11-25T18:34:00.000+08:00

i had my nasal bridge lacerated Friday night. and i now look like some material for a comedy show. bec i really look funny with this piece of bandage (that one friend described as something "murag pantyliner," pweh!) plastered between my eyes. so fuck that bading who inflicted this laceration on my face! fuck him! don't ask me how it happened, i'm still not over it.

last night, i spent more than 3 hours at a public hospital, went home past 12mn, to get a medial certificate to be used as a proof in filing a criminal complaint against that bading. bwisit, i never wanted to make matters worse, but the certificate may come in handy if i finally decide to file a case against him. right now, i just want him crucified, that's all. no way can i forgive him yet, bec in the first place i didn't do anything to him, i don't even know him! i may be bad, but i really don't think i deserve this shit.

movies...

2007-11-23T13:03:00.000+08:00

BEOWULF

Starring: Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, Angelina Jolie

It's action-packed. It's best watched in the movies. And oh, the bods. But I heard, Ray Winstone's body in this 3-D flick is a far cry from his real one. Now, that's what you call the magic of technology.

BLOOD AND CHOCOLATE

Agnes Bruckner, Vivian Hugh Dancy

Agnes Bruckner's role in this film (she's a werewolf) is something to die for. The fly-run scenes are really good. Hell, yes, I want to fly too. lol!

KNOCKED UP

Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl

Just a bit funny. And the story is ordinary, even predictable. I watched it bec there was no other better movie then, pfft! But that's Izzie there.

ENCHANTED

Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey

Dr. McDreamy is dancing in this movie, my god! Hahah...Still, he is cute doing it. As for Amy Adams, uhm, I would prefer someone more beautiful for her character. Because this is fantasy, and they're giving us not only a less pretty character playing Cinderella or Snow White's (or is it?) character, but also an ordinary looking (not to mention stupid) girl. I don't know much about this Amy Adams though, and I'm bad. Well, at least the ticket was free. He-he!

MAGNIFICO

Jiro Manio, Lorna Tolentino, Albert Martinez

This is definitely my favoritest Pinoy movie. I watched it a month ago, and almost got dehydrated. The soft side of me got me then, so sensya na. This is really the best Filipino film I've seen so far. And I can go on saying so many best scenes in it, di nalang ko kay makahilak nya sab mo. lol!

the sPiceGirls

2007-11-22T12:00:00.000+08:00

And they are so back! I wish for good na ni. I heard too that Victoria Beckham will be guesting Ugly Betty anytime soon. Wow!

celebrating bagyo the Talisaynon way

2007-11-20T17:58:00.000+08:00

Cebuanos were really surprised by typhoon Lando's arrival around 4pm yesterday. No one was prepared for it, not even Pag-asa. Yeah, what kind of a weather forecasting method are they using there that they failed to predict the upcoming storm?, you may ask. Ambot! Because while Lando was wreaking havoc in the different parts of my province I was in a mall watching Beowulf. It was only from some friends' text messages that I learnt that something was going on outside. But had I known, the mall would be the last place I'd be in that very moment. Bec I'd surely be at home enjoying a mug of hot chocolate there, or watching the fierce sways of the trees from my window. Then after the storm, maglaruy-laroy sa kasilinganan, samtang magtamak-tamak sa baha, like what is a common scene in barangay Poblacion after a bagyo. I remember, when I was younger, at night after a bagyo, bec there's no electricity yet, everyone in the neighborhood, kids and adults, would go out of the house to talk about what they just experienced. While we, the younger ones, would gather at some neighbor's lantay to talk about our childhood memories or laugh at someone's stupid jokes. So probinsya!

But last night was different, when I went home after the movie, it was around 8PM, the street was deserted. Well, the power was restored by then, and most probably, my neighbors, including my childhood friends, were inside their own homes watching a TV show. Even if I had the power to cut the power again, so those guys would come out and tell me each of their stories of the typhoon, I still would not do it. Bec I also had my own fave TV show to watch too. It was Grey's Anatomy last night. I understand we've all grown up, and it was already gone.

Ormoc City in 20 minutes

2007-11-18T18:56:00.000+08:00

It's like going there to buy its famous moron (choc-flavored budbod), then back to Cebu with it. LOL! Actually, we weren't able to bring home some moron, bec we were all itching to see and enjoy the place before we leave back to Cebu, and when we came back to where it's sold, it's already gone. I just bought a box of cheese sticks (?), I forgot the name, for P60, instead.

Anyway, it was still fun doing it that way, with no itinerary and all, and with the time fast ticking while we were at it (plus, the rain sabotaging it all). So what we did, we commissioned a trike driver to take us to the island's famous stops (not really famous the way we have the Magellan's Cross here in Cebu, but at least, for some souvenir photos. LOL) nearest to the pier. And two minutes before our scheduled departure to Cebu, we were back at the pier.

Now, the pics.

A monument of the whatever war. (I didn't have the luxury of time to read the inscriptions.)

Photos: (L-R) Our AE and Weesam 7 in the background, another AE and our ride (LOL!), the bridge.

------------------
And here's the 3-yr-old cute passenger Emma.

shy.

10 mins later, nibangka na og estorya. she told us namatay na kuno iyang parents, kay "ang awto nabungi." weeeh...(nakumutan nuon. hehehhe)

------------

More of Ormoc: (L-R) the Megadome, the badjao-like kids at the pier, the St. Peter statue, and the plaza.

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The Doggie and the AE

(a story)

This is Lucy Torres' house.

This is the dog.

The dog there, and the AE also there.

AE: Pagdali, dhay...pagdali...

Doggie: Eew, bisdak! Ambisyosa!

---------------------

Some more photos: (L-R)) Camotes Is., the St. Peter's church, balay sa pati.

To Weesam Express, thanks for taking us there, and back (in time to do the real job. LOL!)

at 23

2007-11-17T13:31:00.000+08:00

Aldrin Cabua (1983-2007)

This photo was taken last Sept 16 at a parade that kicked off the celebration of the PF week. He was one of the dancers then. A few days later, he was rushed to the hospital for severe stomach pains that could be traced to excessive alcoholic drinking. And from there he was found to have stage four cancer of the liver. Stage four cancer means you are already counting your days. He never went back to the office after that, although he'd been telling our boss and officemates that he'd be back "next week." No one told him that he was dying. At dawn of Nov 11, at the age of 23, he finally went away. Vaya con dios, Aldrin.

PS: A prayer for this guy, please.

the couch potato is back

2007-11-16T09:35:00.000+08:00

Grey's Anatomy. It's on fourth season now (thank God, Studio 23 is
catching up!), and there's that same touch again that never fails to amaze me, I'm talking about the witty punch lines, and the humorous trio of Meredith, Izzie and Christina (although this one here most of the time doesn't have any idea she is already funny even if she is being seriously serious. I love her!) I was caught up in that scene at the hospital's canteen wherein Izzie was all prepped to fight the
approaching Dr. Callie, complete with all the details where she removed her shoes and everything that would be detrimental to the coming match--but damnit! George's wife did not come to see her to give her it. Or Izzie would sure turn into a pulp. If you've seen Sara Ramirez already (the Dr. Callie Torres-O'Malley), then you know what I mean. Grey's is aired over Studio 23 every Monday following Mo Twister's Kabarkada Break the Bank.

Ugly Betty. It was only last Tuesday that I was able to catch the
freshest episode of this show. It's on its second season already; I've never even gotten to see the rest of the first because there's no cable connection at home, and there's no more pirated DVD of it in the bangketa. The story is not that complicated anyway, it's a comedy so it's just all about laughing out loud. And laughing out loud was all I did last Tuesday. I'm actually still not over that scene where Betty,
who was in a middle of a meeting, in her goal to reach a plate of cookies at a nearby table, tripped her chair to that side causing the entire table of cookies and biscuits flying in all direction. And while everyone in the meeting was shocked at what just happened (while Betty was trying to collect all the scattered biscuits from the floor), Marc, the gay character of the show, broke, yet again, one of
his witty punch lines like this one: "Don't worry, Betty, they hardly
noticed it." And picked a piece of donut that landed on his side of the
table, and casually threw it away. Oh, Betty, you are a winner! Please, we should watch it together (if you too don't have a cable at
home) at 9:30pm every Tuesday, still in Studio 23.

Kabarkada Break The Bank. I've been watching this game show for four straight nights already. Nah, not that I like it. It's just the only
thing that's on TV, while waiting for Grey's and Betty (for Mondays
and Tuesdays, respectively), which is actually the only "better" thing to watch
after the primetime newscasts, bec I'm sorry, I don't watch telenovelas, which for me are so full of crap! So this Mo Twister-hosted show, that I think is a spin-off of Kapamilya, Deal or No Deal of Kris Aquino (ABS-CBN), though the "smaller" version, is like the only "sound" that's played on my once green TV while I'm
reading the papers. The only time that I was actually hooked by it, I wasn't even waiting for a better show that time, was the other night. It was Asia Agcaoili's dancing to the tune of Sean Kingston's Beautiful Girls that really got me. The funny thing was when she’s at it, she oftentimes forgot that she was hosting a live game show. For several times, she failed to answer Banker’s calls bec she was totally engrossed to her dancing. She’s really cute. LOL! I watched the show last night, and dull Mo was back again. Cripes!

That’s all. But if there’s anymore show that’s really funny and good, suggestions are accepted. Ayaw lang nang naa sa cable, kay we don’t have that in my place, pobre! Thank you.

manila from the bird's eyeview

2007-11-12T11:00:00.000+08:00

Metro Manila at 7AM of Nov 8. Crowded.

subic during the night

2007-11-12T10:58:00.000+08:00

Subic is more than three hours away from the buzzling streets of Metro Manila. I was there to take these shots, and come back with a cold. No, I'm not complaining. ;)

mall of asia, a quick tour

2007-11-12T10:22:00.000+08:00

Before we went back home, we had less than 2 hours to see the Mall of Asia. It was like joining the Amazing Race here: took some snaps here, and ran for the next stop, dined for a few mins there, and talked with old friends for the rest of the remaining time. Out of curiousity, I visited Imax, and just watched it. That was all I could do for the moment, never had the chance to see Beowulf that was currently showing in this mega theater bec there was no more time. a real big TSK for that!

Well, anyway, what I've seen inside the mall.

And finally, home.

Cebu at 5:30pm of Nov 10, several miles up.

camiguin adventure, the next level (photos from the oct6-8 visit)

2007-11-06T15:16:00.000+08:00

Note: Camera is a disposable instamatic with 27 shots, and like all the instamatic ones, it cannot be zoomed in nor out. Hence, the photos are not as vivid as I'd like them to be. We'll hopefully have a better one next time. Manulis sa tah!

Ladies and gentlemen, ako, err, the island's SUNKEN CEMETERY!

The cross. One of the few pieces left intact after over 100 years since the eruption of Mt. Vulcan Daan. Even before seeing Quija I was already obsessed by the sunken cemetery, and it escalated after watching the film. The film was largely shot in Camiguin, and exposed a good part of this cemetery. That underwater scene of Judy Ann Santos where she is seen retrieving a sack that contains the remains of a dead girl that has been left there by her twin sister to rot intensified it all. And this part here, as I was told by my dive buddy, is actually where that scene was shot. But, I was still disappointed. I bought a disposable camera to be used for this site (I did not even care then if this was our only stopover for the entire trip) thinking there was more to it than just rubbles and this cross. Gadako man lang ang huna-huna gud! Pfft!

A photo frame. This is what I was talking about in my previous post (camiguin adventure vol. 1). One of the few left standing, after the 1871 blast. The owner of this marker could still be underneath...The harshness of the sea has spared this one, so it’s possible that the dead—if it is really buried down under—could still be there. And if it was interred near the time when this place was sunk—it is also possible that it still appears like it just died. The salty seawater could do tricks like that, and this one, our supposed example here, could well prove it, but we need to unearth it first. So, shall we?

Nitso. All covered with corals and weeds now. But still, it is spooky. The darkness that surrounds it might be causing it, or when you realize that although it does not resemble the regular grave anymore it is very possible that the owner’s remains are still inside it. There were only two of us venturing in this part—my dive buddy and I--while the rest were doing their own thing several meters away. The buddy, who is about 14, I think, is a quick swimmer, that on more than one occasion he left me to get to the next site, while I was still taking snaps (or being consumed by my disappointment…). When I realized I was already alone, and could see my own two feet still dangling near the very area where there could still be bones down there for all I know, I almost did a somersault. I just don’t have the proper bones for it, so I just killed the boy. Well, almost.
That rectangular-shaped object on the bottom is another grave.

This one too.

There's not much on this part. But several meters away, I gathered from our boatmen-friends, have more nice sights to offer. There's even the big cross there, the one that used to mark the cemetery. But that one was destroyed by a typhoon sometime in the past. If you are standing at a platfom where the new cross marker is you can see 10-15 meters away the old cross lying in a shallow portion of the sea. What prevented me from going there is the fact that we had to cross a deep part for us to get there, plus, more coral-decorated graves could be along the way. And they could be scarier than the ones I've already seen, I don't know, and there was no life vest to hang on to basin unya makuyapan ko. LOL!

The ruins near the new cross. Slabs of gravestones, broken pieces of the cross, et cetera.

Nipahuway sa kalinaw. We are actually standing on the ruins.

***The Mantigue Island now

The drop-off part of Mantigue Island’s marine sanctuary. I just don’t know though if the local government of Camigiun is protecting the area as what should be done to every reef declared as a marine protected area. It is actually evident here, and even in the sunken cemetery, that dynamite fishing is still being practiced. According to the locals I’ve talked to, the sea that surrounds the Camigiun island is considered an “aquarium” because of its schools of fishes that live here. It is just so sad to see pieces of broken corals being washed off to the shores when it should have been great to see them alive and being inhabited by these schools of fishes, not where they are now, and definitely not in some resort’s concrete floors being made as decoration, like what Paras Resort has done.

There are so many fishes in this part, the cam just did not see them. I really need to rob a bank soon. See those little creatures? The big ones are already gone. The locals' main livelihood is fishing, and they don't care where they do it.

The deep blue sea...

...and me!

End of report.

King Tut unveiled

2007-11-05T12:02:00.000+08:00

me, the certified scuba diver

2007-11-03T17:27:00.000+08:00

If you can't believe it, neither can I. I could not even believe my ears, or my eyes, when I read the text message from my diving instructor informing me that my ID has arrived. It was yesterday, unmindful of the rain, I quickly went to his place—which is just a bike away from mine--just to get the proof of my being a certified diver. (insert "yay! yay!" here) And there it was, in a very small brown envelope enough to fit the ordinary-sized ID was my license (there is also a certificate in a separate envelope, see pic below). And did it feel good? It sure did! I’m still feeling the high, honestly. Yeah, me the dakilang mabaw, bow!

So how did I get it? Of course, I took the lessons. It was two weeks ago, for 2 straight days I woke up early in the morning to attend the classes, it was really bad for my work schedules since it was around this time when I was moved to another assignment, which unluckily required me to get there before noontime. It was really a full schedule on my part.

All lessons during the first day were accomplished in the swimming pool. It was back to square one for me since I’ve done this part twice already. But I had to do it, as it was already the formal lesson, and also to build my confidence before going down to the bottom of the ocean, which we did on the following day.

Practically the same lessons were taught on the second day, but this time in the open sea, actually 30 feet below. Been there, done that, yeah. But still, I almost freaked out when I started my descend. Because I deflated my BCD (Buoyancy Control Device), or the vest where everything is attached to it, at once…that I went down quickly when it should have been a slow-motion activity. So I was attacked by the pressure, that I experienced mask squeeze that my eyes were close to popping out from their sockets, and my left ear started to hurt, which later on hurt like it was going to explode (a first in my many dives) that I had to stop, and contemplate of going back to the surface to correct everything. But when my instructor asked if I was “okay” (doing the hand sign, of course) I pointed my left ear, which means there’s trouble in that part. I tried the equalizing technique, went up a few feet to do it, as advised, but everytime I went down again, the pain would come back. But after a few minutes of doing the same exercise a few more times, the ear pressure disappeared. The same happened with the mask squeeze that during the first few minutes I was feeling it, it was really hurting not only my eye sockets but also all over my face where the mask's edges had touched. I just learnt a few days ago from a workmate—who is also a scuba diving instructor, that a Japanese guy had died three weeks ago after diving in Gilutongan. According to him, the guy’s eyes were actually out of their sockets when his body was recovered, most probably bec of the pressure. Can you imagine that??? But it could be because he went down to as far as 97 meters! It registered in his dive computer. My god! That’s about 290 feet. He might have emptied his tank before he could even resurface, we don’t know. But Jesus Christ, you don’t dive that deep, and unaccompanied.

So back to the lesson. On the third and final day, which is all about surviving the worst case scenarios, like, running out of air, emergency ascending, etc. But I had a very important assignment that day, that I missed it. There were three of us in that lesson, one was a 21-year old and the other was her father. So sweet! =) And it was only she and the dad who finished the lesson, diving 60 feet, they even reached 70 ft, I was told. All those time they were doing it, I was sitting at a session hall, bored to death.

But they still give me my ID despite my not completing the course, I still have to do it, though. Hopefully this Monday, and I’m not holding my breath. What’s scary about Lagundi, seriously, is its almost lack of visibility, that you have to be closer to the floor for you to see the marine lives there, otherwise all that’s before you are what they call particulates or what to me are “dusts” in the water. In here also are the jellyfish that never fail to see me, and further scar me for life. If I had my way and money, I would prefer doing deep dives in white sandy ocean floors like that in Pescador where you can already see what’s there even while you’re still in the surface. But, just take away the infamous white tip shark there, and drop-offs, if you can, hahaha!

The license, by the way, is not expensive, if you may ask. This is actually the reason why I was lured into getting one. It is right that famous names, like, PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) ask P10,000-P18,000 for the lessons. But CMAS, it is an international name in the scuba diving world, yes, but is here to give a very fair price to all those who’d like to join their team. I’m stingy, and here, I got a CMAS license! ;)

PS. I had to change the photo, alright. Bec halloween is already over. :P