Life's Simple Pleasures

earlier, i thought of missing listening to early morning radio news and public affairs program, particularly Mike Enriquez' Saksi sa Dobol B. So i tuned it to the station and as expected, i was entertained. Mike has been announcing that former Manila Congressman Mark Jimenez is giving away cash in favor of Educational Plan holders that were victims of bankrupt Educational Plan Companies.

Mike: "Puro na lang pulitikaaaa... eto naman mga Kapuso... magandang balita namaaaaannn..."

Then the former Congressman interview came. Not exactly the words, but their conversation went like this:

Mike: Totoo po ba Congressman na mamamahagi kayo ng 20 milyong piso para sa mga biktima ng naluging Educational Plans?

Mark J: Opo, opo. at yan naman ay mula sa aking puso...

Mike: Hindi po ba ito gaya ng nabasa ko kanina sa news item ko na kaugnay lang ng plano ninyong bumalik sa pulitika.. baka sa eleksyon eh babalik kayo dito sa istasyon namin at sasabihin ninyo, "naalala pa ba ninyo... nagdonate ako ng ganito, ganun.."

Mark J: ay hindi po. nuon pa man eh marami na akong natulungan, hindi ko lang pinagsasabi... (Mike cuts)

Mike: ay opo, opo... hindi ko na sana sasabihin pero sasabihin ko na.. nag donate kayo noon dito sa aming kapuso foundation nung kalamidad yata sa Ormoc ba yun, congressman...?

Mark J: hindi lang dun, marami pang iba. mga 200 milyong piso na ang naibibigay natin buhat noon pang nagsimula akong tumulong. at ito naman eh biyayang galing sa langit na kinita natin, ibinabalik ko lang sa mga tao.

Mike: opo, opo, opo.... ganun na po kalaki?

Mark J: kaya ako'y nananawagan dun sa mga kasamahan natin na meron namang ibabahagi eh tumulong. dito kase sa atin, baligtad, yung pera ng maliliit na tao eh napupunta sa mayaman.

Mike: ibig nyo po bang sabihin eh yung sa mahihirap eh sa mayayaman napupunta? baligtad ba ang flow, Congressman?

Mark J: ganun na nga.

x x x x x

some politics. hahaha.

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as tagged by Ivan:

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Instructions: Name ten (10) of life’s simple pleasures that you like the most, then pick ten (10) people to do the same. Try to be original and creative and not to use things that someone else has already used.

here goes my list:

1. conversation over cups of coffee/hot choco/cold coffee
2. lying on the couch while watching TV and munching Moby & Sweet Corn or Nagaraya
3. photography (though i haven't been doing this since college)
4. meeting up with long-seen friends
5. SPA (i know it's not a simple vice, ok, body massage will do :P)
6. bowling with friends
7. family reunion
8. carrying your niece and nephew and playing with them
9. eating pork sinigang in a barrio setting
10.sleeping during non-sleeping hours

Tagging: Jovee, Abby, Mitch, Ronnie, Leilani (asan na LJ mo?), Sealdi, Monica, PnuT, Paul Jensie, Jim Paredes :)

Tuwing Umuulan At Kapiling Ka

Saberdey, tinutukan ko ang mga gawain sa opisina upang maagang makaalis. naka-schedule akong tumupad sa kasal ni kuya Daniel de Leon. Pero bago ako tumungo sa ensayo, dinaanan ko muna si Camille sa kanilang tahanan at isinama sya sa okasyon. 2:30 ang ensayo, alas-kuatro naman ang takdang oras ng kasal. Mula sa 2nd row ay inilipat ako ng kuya Jimmy sa first row. ako pa ang inatasan manguna sa panata. hmp. hindi pa naman ako seryoso, pangiti-ngiti pa ko kase katabi ko si Ryan at may pinag-uusapan kaming ibang bagay. hehehe. bad.
eniwey, maayos namang nairaos ang sakal, este, kasal at pagkatapos ay tinulungan ako ni Camille sa pag-aayos ng sarili patungo sa reception. tila kase biglaan ang mga pangyayari, ako raw ay isa sa mag-e-emcee eh pagdating sa clubhouse, wala naman palang programa. kung meron man, ayaw mag host nung isang emcee na dapat makakasama ko. eh dahil hindi ko naman gamay yung "script" ng programa na inihanda ni ichay, ayoko ring gamitin yun. sa madaling sabi, walang gustong humawak ng mikropono sa panahon ng reception. si Camille. kabi-kabila ko syang ipinakilala sa mga ka-lokal ko. isa syang lifesaver. bagama't malakas ang hiyang nararamdaman, naglakas-loob siya para lamang hindi magmukhang kawawa ang reception. ayaw rin magsalita ni lorens. si ichay, nahiya rin. ako, hmm... ayoko rin eh.
to cut the long story short, iniwan na namin ni Camille ang clubhouse. naka-kain ako ng kaunti pero papunta na sana kami sa Metro East nang tumawag si inay. papunta raw sya sa reception. sabi ko, paalis na yung mga tao dun kaya susunduin na lang namin sya.
pagkasundo, nalaman namin na may isa pa palang pinagdausan ng piging. at iyon ay sa White House. sa bahay yun ni manong Mulong. ang nag-cater naman dun ay ang kapatid ni Manong Mulong na si Manong Rommel. Pagdating namin dun ay andun sina mama Estela, Raynard at Mark Daniel. Ayus! Kainan na naman. mas ok dun kase kaunti ang tao at ka-vibes ko halos ang mga nandun. Eh di sige, dun na nakakain si Camlle, samantalang ako, iced tea na lamang at desert ang nilantakan ko. Ilang saglit pa, medyo dumami na ang mga otaw. Dumating sina Ilyo kasama si Calvin. akala ko nga andun si irene, hihintayin ko sana kaso tumupad pala sa Cainta.
Dumating na rin sina Enchong, kuya Jaymer, lorens, Jess... speaking of the latter, halatang medyo nailang nang makita si Tamil. eh pinansin ko pa.. hehehe.. wala lang. speechless sya.
dumating na rin yung iba pang nanggaling sa clubhouse kaya niyaya ko na si inay umalis. tutal, nagpapasama pa sya sa amin sa eastwood kaya pumunta na kamin dun.

habang nagpapa-ayos ng kung ano si inay, nagkape kami ni Camille sa Seattle's Best. Actually, parehong Iced White Choco Mocha ang inorder namin. Yun lang naman ino-order ko dun kadalasan.

Tapos, umuwi na kami.

Araw-araw (sunday) ngayon ko lang nalaman na pag literal na iniliwat ang salitang SUNDAY eh lalabas na ARAWARAW pala ito. ang gulo. kase ang SUNDAY ay hindi EVERYDAY na ang tamang kahulugan sa tagalog ay ARAW-ARAW na pag literal namang iniliwat sa English ay SUNDAY.

adik.

cookfest sa lokal. mas marapat siguro na ang detalye nito ay isulat ko na lang sa isa kong blog. mas maayos, mas normal, walang halong kaadikan.

kahapon, SICK LEAVE ako sa office. kung ano man yung "sakit" ko eh ako na lang ang nakakaalam. hapon, umabay ako sa kasal ni Rio. Si Rio ay kaklase ko nung kolehiyo, kasamahan sa Glee Club at Kapampangan kung kami ay mag-usap. Nilusong niya ang ministeryo sa tulong ng aking ina, kaya naman malaki ang pagpapasalamat niya sa kanya. pero hindi yun ang gusto kong ikwento. eto ang nangyaring magaling:

maaga pa lang ay inihanda ko na ang mga gagamitin ko: barong, v-neck, camera, invitation, sarili. hehe.. tapos, sinundo ko sa Camille, nagtungo sa opisina ni itay sa Roces Ave., ibinigay ang mga kailangan para sa DFA at dun na rin nananghalian sa walang kamatayang KFC. Pagkatapos, dahil maaga pa eh nagpalipas kami ng oras sa Gateway, nagkape sa Figaro at doon unang binalangkas ang isang listahan (ng grocery :P). tawanan at pikunan ang nangyari kaya minabuti na naming lisanin ang dakong iyon at sunduin na si inay sa opisina nya. kasama kase sya sa kasal. syempre. alangan namang maiwan sya eh anak-anakan niya yung ikakasal.

Tapos, pagdating sa Central, dun ko nalaman... wala akong undershirt.. naiwan yung hinanda kong V-neck dun sa kama ko! Adik talaga. Sinenyasan ko si Camille na huwag maingay at baka mag hysterical na naman si inay sa pagkakaroon ko ng memory gap. pero andun na. itinaboy ko na sila papasok sa loob at sinabi kong magbibihis pa ako. pagkaalis nila sa sasakyan, dali dali kong tinakbo ang mga tindahan ng RTW sa Tandang Sora kahit na tumagktak pa ang pawis ko, wala akong pakialam. ang mahalaga, makakuha ako ng undershirt at ang sagwa naman kung magba barong ako na bakat ang dede at malaking tyan ko. yakk!

dahil sa diskarte, pagdating ko sa loob ay parang walang nangyari. hehe.
sa reception, sobrang bilis namin (si inay pa! pahuhuli ba yun?) pagdating namin ay naroon pa lamang ang wedding planner, video boys, pamilya ng manong jerson, isang ninang at dalawa niyang kaibigan. ayun, nakapagpakuha pa kami ng ilang litrato sa may presidential table at sa harap ng wedding cake. pagkatapos ay naki-upo na lang kami ni Camille sa mesa ng manong jerson. tila nagka-crush pa yata ang anak ni manong jerson na grade six student kay Camille ah. panay ang sulyap nung bata at kami namang dalawa eh aliw na aliw syang pagmasdan. tapos pinilit ko si Camille na magkaroon ng isang souvenir photo kasama yung bata. hehe. ang kulet!

hagisan ng bouquet at garter, tumakas kami ni Camille. nagpunta kami sa CR (syempre magkahiwalay) at matamang nakinig sa mga nangyayari sa labas. wala nang nagtatawagan ng binata at dalaga kaya bumalik na kami sa lamesa namin. Aba! saka pa lang nagtawag. ayun, nakasali sya sa bouquet tradition, at ako sa garter tradition. bwiset. pero syempre, hindi na kami yung "nagkapalad" na gumawa nung sumunod na seremonya. hehehe...

uwi na kami. dumaan sa Max's para mag-inquire ng bday package para sa pinsan ni Camille. Ang magbabayad eh yung tita nya na taga Ottawa. hmmm... place sounds familiar. opo. sa Canada po yun, sa lalawigan din ng Ontario. malapit lang ang kamag-anak nila sa kinaroroonan ng pamilya ng ate ko. haayyy... ang liit ng mundo.


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Ang lakas ng ulan habang itina-type ko ito. Ang sarap matulog. Mula dito sa kinauupuan ko ay natatanaw ko ang mga patak ng ulan sa bintana ni boss.. sobrang lungkot ng kalangitan, at malamig ang simoy ng aircon, hudyat na malamig ang panahon sa labas. Tumawag ako kay Camille. Brownout daw. at least, malamig. pwede pa ring matulog at magpahinga. Mamaya ay naka-schedule kaming lumibot sa mall (ulit) pero this time, kasama ang kanyang ina. biyenen bonding? LOL. high talaga ako ngayon. pasensya na.

mga petsa

kahapon, magkikita-kita sana kami ng mga dati kong ka-trabaho sa SUN Cellular ngunit hindi na ako tumuloy nang bigla nilang baguhin ang naunang pinagkasunduang oras ng pagkikita. mula sa ika-7 at kalahati ng gabi, ginawa nila itong ika-9 ng gabi. ha ha ha. gabi na. anong oras pa ako makakauwi? hindi ba nila alam na nagbabago ako ng anyo kapag inabutan sa kalsada ng hatinggabi? hmm... sa susunod na lang ulit na pagkikita-kita namin. marahil, sa kasal na ni Anne sa darating na Nobyembre.

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hindi pa kami matuloy-tuloy ng pagkakape/malamig na tsaa ni CY. maraming kwento na ang napalagpas, maraming pangyayari na ang hindi pa napag-uusapan. dagdag pa ang pagbabago sa mga tuntunin ng PNK. haayy... hindi yata sapat ang isang kofi session ah.

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kailan kaya ulit ang date namin ng mga dabarkads ko? gusto ko kase ipakilala sa kanila si Camille. hmm... pag nagkataon, marahil kami lang ni L-Ey ang makakapagsama ng S.O. sa EB na yun! Unless gulatin kaming lahat ni jawee v. :P

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manonood kami mamaya ni Camille ng The Da Vinci Code. Sayang. ang tamad kong magbasa ng aklat. Ang aklat nito na pag-aari ng pinsan ko ay halos isang buwan na nasa akin. hanggang kapitulo 2 lang ang nabasa ko. olats. sana lang, maganda ang pelikula, gaya ng mga narinig ko sa mga nakabasa ng aklat na maganda raw ang pagkakasulat sa nasabing istorya.

Blogthings

You Are 70% Boyish and 30% Girlish

You are pretty evenly split down the middle - a total eunuch. Okay, kidding about the eunuch part. But you do get along with both sexes. You reject traditional gender roles. However, you don't actively fight them. You're just you. You don't try to be what people expect you to be.

How Boyish or Girlish Are You?

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You Are a Natural Flirt

Believe it or not, you're a really effective flirt. And you're so good, you hardly notice that you're flirting. Your attitude and confidence make you a natural flirt. And the fact that you don't know it is just that more attractive!

What Kind of Flirt Are You?

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Your Hidden Talent

You are a great communicator. You have a real way with words. You're never at a loss to explain what you mean or how you feel. People find it easy to empathize with you, no matter what your situation. When you're up, you make everyone happy. But when you're down, everyone suffers.

What's Your Hidden Talent?

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Your Ideal Relationship is Marriage

You've dated enough to know what you want. And that's marriage - with the right person. You're serious about settling down some time soon. Whether you have met or haven't met yet the person you want to get hitched to!

What's Your Ideal Relationship?

my comment: Wow!

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In a Past Life...

You Were: A Banished Philosopher. Where You Lived: South Africa. How You Died: In Childbirth.

Who Were You In a Past Life?

some reincarnation fiction... haha!

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You Should Drive a Saturn Sky

You're sleek and smooth, and you need a car to match your hot persona. Besides, sometimes you want your top up - and sometimes you want it down.

What 2007 Car Should You Drive?

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You Are Thai Food

Trendy yet complex. People seek you out - though they're not sure why.

What Kind of Food Are You?

I like the description: "People seek you out - though they're not sure why." sounds naughty..haha!

energetic Tuesday

i'm having a very lively and energetic Tuesday morning and i hope to maintain this until i call it a day later. Today is our scheduled choir practice, actually this morning at 5am. So, since i don't want pounding on the van's battery terminal so early in the morning, i grabbed my bicycle and headed to church as early as 4:30am. i'm sweaty and so much alive upon reaching my destination but its all good. i smell good even when sweating, haha!

anyway, afterwards, when i got home (like right now), i attended to our van which seems to be having some emotional problems when it last heard that it is to be sold in replacement for a new vehicle for the family. hmm... these cars/vans must have their own mind. better not let your vehicles hear when you plan to sell them, or trade them elsewhere.

i did some sweeping in our very dirty garage, put oil in our squeaking gate doors, and afterwich bought some powder detergent for the laundry today and at the same time soak my choir toga to be ready for use on Thursday. and now i have time to update this blog a bit.

i have to prepare early (as in minutes after i publish this) since i'd be commuting going to work. and later after office, i still have to catch up for another choir practice--- this time for a wedding performance on Saturday. Our resident worker is tying the knot and a selection of men's choir is performing in the choir.

oh well.

on another note, i heard from friend Mariel that the Movie & Television Review And Classification Board is again trying to catch some public attention as they held the screening of The Da Vinci Code. What the heck is wrong, people of MTRCB???

Finally, though it was stormy and all wet, i had a great weekend! And THANKS to ALL those who greeted me on my 30th birthday! Geez... i'm old... but it's all God's blessings!

God bless all of us!

my prayer today

"Lord, I have gone to you for safety.
Let me never be put to shame.
You do what is right. Save me and help me.
Pay attention to me and save me.
Be my rock of safety
that I can always go to.
Give the command to save me.
You are my rock and my fort.
My God, save me from the power of sinners.
Save me from the hands of those who are mean and evil.
You are the King and the Lord. You have always been my hope.
I have trusted in you ever since I was young.
From the time I was born I have depended on you.
You brought me out of my mother's body.
I will praise you forever.
To many people I am an example of how much you care.
You are strong. You are my place of safety.
My mouth is filled with praise for you.
All day long I will talk about your glory.
Don't push me away when I'm old.
Don't desert me when my strength is gone.
My enemies speak against me.
Those who want to kill me get together and make evil plans.
They say, "God has deserted him.
Go after him and grab him.
No one will save him."
God, don't stay so far away from me.
My God, come quickly and help me.
May those who bring charges against me die in shame.
May those who want to harm me
be covered with shame and dishonor.
But I will always have hope.
I will praise you more and more.
I will say that what you have done is right.
All day long I will talk about how you have saved your people.
It is more than I can understand.
Lord and King, I will come and announce your mighty acts.
I will announce that you alone do what is right.
God, ever since I was young you have taught me about what you have done.
To this very day I tell about your wonderful acts.
God, don't leave me
even when I'm old and have gray hair.
Let me live to tell my children about your power.
Let me tell all of them about your mighty acts.
God, your saving acts reach to the skies.
You have done great things.
God, who is like you?
You have sent many bitter troubles my way.
But you will give me new life.
Even if I'm almost in the grave,
you will bring me back.
You will honor me more and more.
You will comfort me once again.
My God, I will use the harp to praise you
because you are always faithful.
Holy One of Israel,
I will use the lyre to sing praise to you.
My lips will shout with joy
when I sing praise to you.
You have saved me."

- Psalm 71

nagngingitngit ako

Mayo 09 na pala. ang bilis talaga ng araw. kaarawan ngayon ni Pam. isang ka-mang-aawit sa lokal ng Mississauga. binati ko sya sa Friendster at sapat na yun.

Anyway, sa wakas ay nagkaroon din ako ng bakasyon. at ito'y malaking bagay para sa akin. out of town lang dyan sa tabi-tabi...

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noong Sabado, sumama ako sa ensayo nina Camille para sa Sunduan. Ito'y isang kultural na palabas na idinaos naman nung Linggo sa bayan ng Taytay. pinatalsik yung kapareha nya kaya muntik pa kong maging konsorte. buti na lang, nandun yung kapatid nya kaya silang dalawa ang naging magkapareha. Pagkatapos nung ensayo eh nagtungo kami sa bahay ng isang kaibigan ng kanyang inay. may handaan kase, merong may kaarawan. sa tagal ng pagkukwentuhan, napag-alaman naming lahat na kamag-anak sila (yung may bahay) nung biyenang babae ng ate ko. maliit lang talaga ang mundo.

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outing ngayon ng Funky Fun. Ang punong tanggapan nila ay doon din sa tanggapan namin, isang silid lang ang pagitan. ang mga kawani ay tutungo sa Island Cove sa may Binakayan, lalawigan ng Cavite. naalala ko tuloy yung ginawa naming escapade nung ilan sa malalapit kong kaibigan dun din sa nasabing resort, tatlong taon na ang nakararaan. haayyy... ang bilis talaga ng panahon. pwede kayang humakbang pabalik ng kahit mga tatlong taon lang?

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nagngingitngit ako. sapagkat pinutol ang puno ng narra sa tabi ng bahay namin. mga walang pakundangan sa kalikasan! mga walang pakialam sa mundo! mga halang ang kaluluwa! sana naging puno kayo at maranasan nyong putulin nang walng kadahi-dahilan! mga salot kayo ng lipunan!

Labor Month

May 1 marks Philippine Labor Day and five years ago was one of the most chaotic Labor Day in Philippine history.

May 1 this year fell on a Monday. Long weekend, and it was nice. my morning was spent with churchmates as we held our sports activity, and in the afternoon with my special gurL in their home where i took my lunch and we watched a video afterwards. i also brought my college videos with me to their place and left it there for her viewing. hehehe.. maybe it was a nice thing to do for her to know how i looked like when i was younger her current age. LOL.

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30 years ago, this month, my mom was on labor. she was giving birth to the most gorgeous creature *eherm* ever born on earth *eherrrm* hahaha.. oh yes, i'm adding *urgh* another year to my age, God willing. :)
i'll be gone (not for good) on that day. probably just going to take a stroll somewhere. a break. a much-needed break. too bad. i wasn't able to book an out of town trip elsewhere. hmm...

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Labor month is for all workers--- whether it is a white collar job, a blue collar job, part time job, full time job, summer job, and anything that makes one earn for a living. As for me, this is another transition month as we are supposed to start a new project in the office where i will play one major role in its operation. and yes, i'm still keeping myself excited with my new work schedule!

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Our company celebrated its first year anniversary last Tuesday (May 2). We were supposed to dine in at Outback (steak resto) but it was closed at lunch time (Libis branch) so we instead went to Italiani's in Eastwood. I ordered (the usual order) their baked ziti and added a side dish order of calamares. We were all so full that some of us didn't bother ordering our cake desserts any more. too bad. :(
my last order for that occasion was a cup of coffee. haha. talk about kofi addiktus. :P

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Last night was one of the most memorable nights i have had. One thing was, my dad went home to attend to his and moms application papers to Canada. the other thing was about a 'hearty' phone conversation and the rest was history. . .

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It's May! My next favorite month second to December. Summertime! Mango season! Last blast for those on vacation! Lotsa food, parties, celebration! Family reunions! everything beautiful on this month!