another long and stormy(?) weekend...

i just took Ayah to church a few minutes ago as their office sent them home at four this afternoon. She is now attending the Thursday worship service and i will be fetching her after work at around pass 6pm. Their work call-off was in anticipation of the coming "super typhoon" Reming which is scheduled to make a direct hit to Metro Manila by tomorrow, early morning. But then, i was monitoring on DZ dobol B (DZBB 594kHz) and news says that the typhoon made a turn and changed it's earlier direction. i've been wanting to verify the information myself but PAGASA website can't seem to be accessed these past few hours. too much server load perhaps.

anyway, today marks the [supposed] end of our pills trade deal promo. i had an exhausting day, the only consolation is having your boss celebrate his birthday and gives everyone a lunch treat (celebrator on 2nd photo, 2nd from right):



[food served: pandesal with sausage, baked mac, barbecue, frozen mango cake ala sanzrival, and bottles of coke]


(save as draft)

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(edit... 11:23pm)

i just woke up a few minutes ago and cooked (and ate) 2 packs of pancit canton. my mom just arrived from i-don't-know-where, and she's talking and talking and talking...

earlier, i felt a bit bad after taking Ayah home for two reasons: (1) i wasn't able to take my dinner in their place and afterwich realized her mom cooked sinigang for us; and, (2) ayah & i didn't get to talk much together today since i was very busy attending to our cut-off & last day of processing our trade deals. then i have to go home asap because my tummy was hurting.

i'm updating this thing to get this post done. actually, i am waiting for the late news (Saksi) to get updated with the typhoon if it's still going to be felt a lot here in metro manila by tomorrow. PAGASA website still down. oh well, probably i'll just fix my room tomorrow morning... yea, perfect time! and if it isn't gonna be raining too hard, maybe mom and i could go for a date by lunch time. choir practice is scheduled at six in the evening thereafter.

last day of November, a month to go and its 2007.

money / no money matters

"it's the most wonderful time of the year..."

if the above-line is familiar with you and you even sang it, then you MUST know what i'm talking about. holiday season is fast approaching and nothing beats Manila when it comes to this season of the year. some noteworthy things:

1. 13th month pay. The most anticipated pay an employee is so "relieved" about. "Relieved" in the sense that this pay usually covers the "expenses" or deficits that one person has during this season. It covers all the planned & lined-up gifts for the long list that people close to you are expecting. it also covers the aguinaldo that your inaanaks are always expecting from you, everytime this season comes.

2. christmas bonus. this i prefer to call holiday bonus for some reason, this bonus can be considered as plain icing on the cake. It all depends on how generous your employer is, and it is from here that one usually alot money for him/herself. or its usually for personal use. no bonus, then you won't get enough for yourself since the 13th month pay wil not suffice for everyone, including yourself.

3. token/gifts. usually given to employees working in a place where regular customers transact everyday. the most common example are people working in retail banking (ghad, i miss working in a bank even if i rant too much). these customers have their "favorites" when it comes to employees who serve them, and of course the tokens & gifts will rely on that.

4. "enveloped" surprise. these come in the form of gift certificates, discount coupons or cards, managers checks or simply cash. wow. what would you do if you receive this?

5. raffle prizes on parties. for the lucky peeps on raffles, they are always the first ones to participate in such activities and they project a more energetic aura when raffle numbers are being picked.

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i'm thinking of how much i'd be saving up to next year. with the way my expenses are going these past few days, i'm projecting a 0% additional savings at least up to my next birthday. woah. and i'd be begging for money come end of the year. that's bad. tsk, tsk... need to tighten up my belt MORE.

Makati: Ang Pagbabalik

ISANG TAO na parang ngayon lang nakarating ng Ayala Center... palinga-linga sa paligid, pinagmamasdan ang matataas na gusali, nakanganga habang sumasalubong sa mga tao na karamihan ay naka corporate attire, walang pinalalagpas na advertisement sa underpass habang papatawid sa kabilang kalye.. yan ang larawan ko kanina nang muli akong makadalaw sa lunsod ng Makati, partikular sa Ayala Center. Ang araw na ito ay madali ko lang binuo sa aking isipan at isinakatuparan agad din, nang akuin ko sa opisina ang pagdadala ng mga BIR forms namin sa tanggapan nito sa Makati. Kinuha ko ito bilang isang magandang pagkakataon upang makita ko ang mga malalapit kong kaibigan (at kapatid sa kawan) na sina jawee at ivan, gayun na rin si Mario na nagtatrabaho lang sa kalapit na gusali. Si ivan ay nagyaya noong Sabado pa ng hapunan at marahil ka-kwentuhan na rin subalit walang umubra sa schedule. si jary naman ay may inaalok na buyer ng mga boxer shorts na noong isang taon ko pa sinimulang i-negosyo (awa ng kalangitan eh, anim na lang ang naiwan at kinuha na lahat ni jary).
Nagkita-kita kami sa ibaba ng gusali nina ivan at tumulak sa malapit na kainan ng Delifrance dahil doon ay hindi gaanong matao. maganda rin ang ambiance para makapagkwentuhan kahit kaunti at sandali lamang. doon na rin sumunod si Mario pero di rin nagtagal at naghiwa-hiwalay na kami. lunch break lang kase nila at ako naman ay kailangan na ring pumunta sa dapat kong asikasuhin. nailibre pala ako ng kape ni Mario bago ako bumalik ng opisina kaya nagpapasalamat ako sa tatlo kong kaibigan na ito sa pagiging maasikaso sa akin sa kanilang "balwarte".

sa BIR, madali ko namang natunton kung saan naroon ang tanggapan nito (sa tulong ng mapa ni ivy) at pagdating doon ay bahagya lang 'nangapa' kung ano ang dapat gawin. mabuti na lang at may isang counter doon na walang pila at may tao na nakahandang magpaliwanang ng lahat ng dapat kong malaman. naka-apat na balik din ako sa kanya bago lubusang nag-fill-up ng bagong mga pormularyo at ipila sa tatlong magkakaibang counters ang hawak kong mga dokumento. sa panghuling pila, bad trip yung isang empleyado na taga-tatak nung forms. alis nang alis sa pwesto nya kaya nakabinbin at naiipon ang mga papel na dapat nyang i-receive... after ten years, natapos din ako at mag-a-alas kuatro na noon. sumakay na lang ako ng bus hanggang ortigas at lumipat ng bus ulit hanggang I.P.I. saka naman sumakay ng jeep papunta dito sa aming opisina. hayyy... ang hirap ding maging mensahero. lalo na't bumabyahe ka lang. amoy-usok ka na, ubos pa ang oras mo. kung gugustuhin kong magbulakbol pa ay pwedeng-pwede pero hindi ko na ginawa dahil meron pa rin naman akong kahihiyan sa sarili ko at sa aking employer. ang consolation ko na lang ay ang makitang muli ang mga kaibigan ko, at sapat na ring dahilan yun para hindi ako humingi ng reimbursement sa pamasaheng nagamit ko. sa uulitin... :)

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sabi ni ivan, hindi na raw ganun kaganda o kasaya sa Makati sa mga ganitong panahon, hindi tulad noon. hindi naman ako makasang-ayon o makatutol dahil ni minsan eh hindi ako naging Makati Boy. ang alam ko, ayoko pa ring magtrabaho sa Makati. Una, malayo sa amin. Pangalawa, tingin ko eh masyadong mataas ang cost of living. Pangatlo, talo ako sa byahe, pamasahe (o gasolina kung magdadala ako ng sariling sasakyan) at sa trapik. Ortigas pwede pa, pero Makati... hmm... mag-iisip muna ulit ako.

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pagkagaling sa opisina ay pumunta kami ni Ayah sa bahay nina Arman sa may St. Joseph. wow! Kolehiyo pa ako nang huling mapadpad sa lugar na yun! nandun na si Rheidell at si Jhong. ako na lang pala ang hinihintay para magsimula silang kumain. ayun. kumain kami. eat and run lang dahil may ensayo rin ako kanina. nakapag-uwi si Ayah ng ilang pastries mula sa Bizu, galing kay Jhong na ibinigay kay Arman na ibinigay naman kay Ayah (magulo ba? hehehe) ayun, pagkatapos ng pagpapaalam kay papa, hinatid ko na si Ayah sa kanila. sumabay sa amin si Rheidell, hinatid muna namin sa bungad ng subdivision nila, at saka ako pumunta sa lokal para mag-ensayo. Maligayang kaarawan, ARMANDO! Gayundin sa ina ng aking ama, ang aking pinakamamahal na lola, Apung Ingging! (nasa kanan sa larawan na nasa ibaba)



good night po sa inyong lahat! :)

weekend stories

last weekend was one of the not-so-usual weekends that i am having for the past years of my life. two highlights are as follow:

1. Tutuban with Ayah. after attending a special worship service in Antipolo which was intended for PNK officers, Ayah & i went home to our place to have lunch. good thing mom was there to prepare us some left-over food for us to finish and it served as our lunch. since it was adobo, it couldn't have tasted any better days after it was first cooked. as it has been proven: ang adobo ay lalong sumasarap habang tumatagal, and yes, it doesn't spoil easily for days. So after we have taken our lunch, a few minutes only and i was dozing off on the couch (i know, i know... it isn't healthy!) while Ayah was (i guess) watching Eat Bulaga and waiting for me to wake up from my nap. a few minutes have passed and Ayah was tapping me while saying "wake up" since it was supposed to be our date. geeezz... what a boyfriend i am! haha! ok, so i dragged myself up and prepared to leave with Ayah. after leaving our place, we haven't decided where to go so we just stopped by the nearest mall in our place (your guess is as good as ours, :p).

But we felt excited looking for things to buy so we decided instantly that we travel to Divisoria that same hour! And yes, it was supposed to be Ayah's first time to ride the LRT2. It was a joyous experience for her, and for me as well just seeing how happy she was having experienced going to Divisoria via LRT2. She used to go there with her aunt thru a private car and now she had the 'feel' of being a commuter in the main streets of Manila. All the pollution in Manila are the only unpleasant things she (and i of course) had experience but the rest is history!

We just decided to shop in one place--- Tutuban over 168. She bought me two polo shirts (thanks po) and get herself a slack pants. i bought a small polo for Kyle Cribe and later on found out it was indeed small even for the kid. :(
We didn't stay long as we still have to get back to the mall where we parked our van. we also consumed the MAX's gift certificate for dinner and afterwich, we called it a day!

2. 'Berks' reunion (while the nation is rejoicing). not the TV program but the real-life friends reuniting after some years... while Ayah was with her friends in the afternoon (or after all church obligations), i was also with my set of college friends after we decided to see a balikbayan among our circle of friends way back in college days--- Rheidell. He came home from taiwan and is presently residing near our place. good opportunity to reunite, catch up some stories and future plans. we met up with Kristie, together with Arman and we all decided to drop by the place of our music mentor, mom Fe. We had a good conversation after catching up with the hi's & hello's, and Weng was convinced to join us in the unplanned eyeball. It was a very refreshing moment to be with old pals after years of being together, then separated by the many things that must happen in each owns life. The usual 'lecture' was given to us by mom Fe while we had a light snack in KFC Tandang Sora. Only there we had a more serious talk about memories of being a "school servant" and the future that awaits those who showed joy in service for the school and the church as well. Because earlier at mom Fe's house, we were simply giving each other some funny compliments and played jokes on each other while we were also busy rejoicing on the victorious fight of Manny Pacquiao over Erik Morales (2-1). The former knocked down the latter three times, finishing off the much-awaited fight in just three rounds.

photo taken: (1) at mom Fe's condo (L-R): Kristie, mom Fe, Arman taking a picture of myself, and Rheidell; (2) at KFC (L-R): Weng, Rheidell, Arman, Kristie & mom Fe

*sniff-sniff*

i'd like to finish my load of work today but this deym sinusitis is slowing me down...

hello, Monday :)

bihira lang maging maganda ang mood ko pag lunes. katunayan, gumawa nga ako sa PEx ng isang thread na pinamagatang "Sino Sa Inyo Ang May Monday Phobia?" Matagal na ito. Sa banko pa ako nagtatrabaho noon. :) marahil, tamang gising lang ang kailangan. kung sa bagay, may sapat na tulog ako mula kahapon. nasa bahay lang kase ako mula bago mananghalian hanggang bago mag-ensayo sa gabi. kaya todo-tulog ang ginawa ko. hmm... sabi na nga ba. kaya ako lumolobo eh. halos lahat ng bumabati sa akin eh ang "laki" ko na raw. marahil, dahil na rin sa pagkain. tulad nito:



ang larawan sa itaas ay kuha noong Sabado sa Chef Donatelo sa Megamall. nag-share na lang kami ni Ayah dyan sa order naming Fetuccini Carbonara in White Sauce. Buti na lang hati lang kami kase sapat naman yung dami ng serving para sa sharing. actually, suggestion yun nung kahera. na mag-share na lang kami. buti na lang masunurin kami. hehe.

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ayon sa pagkakaalam ko, wala pa si bos ed ngayon. marami akong dapat na tapusin lalo na yung inventory ko sa van. dapat akong makapagbilang ngayon. hmm.. meron din pala akong PO sa Mercury at kailangan ko ring tapusin ang sell-out report ng aming Special Distribution Team o SDT. trabaho na naman. pero kailangan kase ito ang pinagkukunan ko ng panggastos. di ko masabing ikinabubuhay kase panggastos lang talaga ang kaukulan ng sahod ko rito. kung saan ako nakakakuha ng ikinabubuhay ko, yun ang di ko alam. hmm...

Songs, A Tag, And Back To The Future > > >

was tagged by Friend Mariel last October 27th and only now i have had the time to do this. hehe sensya na po..

here goes:

List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they're not any good, but they must be songs you're really enjoying now. Post these instructions in your LiveJournal along with your seven songs. Then tag seven other people to see what they're listening to.

1. Mahal Na Mahal Kita - Regine V. (originally by Archie D.)
2. Love Isn't - Same Same
3. Hawak Kamay - Yeng C.
4. Blue Jeans - APO (revived by rocksteddy)
5. Heaven Knows - Orange & Lemons
6. Somewhere Over The Rainbow - Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
7. Moon River - Andy Williams version

tagging the following people: (1)mitch, (2)ada, (3)jerick, (4)PnuT, (5)jobilark, (6)diane, (7)gladys

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I have done this post last year, the 27th of September. I am re-posting the first part of it, of course with different details. here goes:

10 years ago: I was 20 years old, supposedley busy with my academics and preparations for our (New Era University Glee Club) 18th anniversary musical concert entitled Eighteen.

5 years ago: 2001... exhausting myself and abusing my mind & body in a bank as a new accounts clerk. this job maybe one of my hatest but definitely one of the jobs i had that i am very proud of having. iba ka pag bankero ka! :p

1 year ago: working in the same company i am still with now (wow! that IS a record) but we were located at Ortigas Center--- the time i appreciated myself being tagged as an "Ortigas-working person". A year ago, Karen & I broke up. It's probably the (unsaid) headline of my life last year.

Yesterday: Ayah was literally screaming in the van after seeing me, i mean, Dennis Trillo (hehehe) along Libis, while we were on our way to the office. He was having a shoot in a police station near Pan De Manila and i nearly parked our van nearby to have a good glimpse of him, and have my picture taken. yeah. Dennis & me in a photo. haha! well, did i mention that i want him to portray my life story should i be featured in Magpakailanman? haha!

Today: Just finished processing Watsons purchase order. They (Watsons) really give me pain in the "a" with their ordering procedure. and today, their system is down. i still have to make follow ups tomorrow.

Tomorrow: After work, date with my one and only beh. If plans push through as scheduled, we will be going back to SM Megamall to have Papa Deng's timex watch fixed, and afterwards visit Tita G & the kids at Wack-Wack.

- end of post -

"vacation" stories...

October 24, 2006, Tuesday was declared a non-working holiday by Malacañang in the observance of Ramadan's last day. For our Moslem brothers and sisters, this is a special holy occasion while for non-Moslems especially those who work six-days-a-week like us, it is a great opportunity to take a day off and have a "breather".

So, Ayah and I have scheduled a trip-visit to my dad in San Fernando. My ever-thoughtful dad actually advised me to bring the van in his office and have it checked in preparation for our scheduled trip to Pagsanjan on All Saints Day (long) holiday. After seeing my dad, Ayah & I decided to watch Barang (starring Ms. Juliana Palermo). I was expecting too much from the movie so I was disappointed with the film as a whole. It's not as good as Patayin Sa Sindak Si Barbara nor it is even near the suspense-horror production of Feng Shui (starring Kris Aquino). Many people say that we should have watched TXT instead (starring Angel Locsin, Dennis Trillo & Oyo Boy Sotto). After the movie, we met up with dad to have lunch, then he left us afterwards as we went shopping for Ayah's dad's slippers at the department store, and strolled more around the mall. I contacted a good friend and high school classmate of mine, Elaine, and we met up to catch some quick hello's in a pastry food store in the mall. As usual, she got some pretty good updates with our batchmates and all i can do was to acknowledge in little surprise her "updates" about some of our colleagues. One thing i was very happy about our trip in San Fernando was that it was here where i found my long lost cologne! Ayah & i have been looking for it here in GMA and in leading perfume stores but to no avail. So i didn't think twice in purchasing my favorite scent: JOVAN Ginseng NRG.

Before treading back at North Luzon Tollway, we purchased some packs of Pampanga specialty: tocino. I also bought a pack of hotdog and a nice 420g of garlic peanuts with roasted garlic flakes at Tita's.

October 25-27 we came back to the reality world of being an employee, with lots of things to finish (and endorse) before enjoying the long vacation we both (ayah & i) filed in our respective offices.

October 28, 2006 I attended a thanksgiving worship in the locale of Antipolo in the occasion of the 33rd founding anniversary of the KADIWA & Binhi Christian Family Organizations. Afterwards, i went to the office to do last minute endorsements.

After office, Ayah & i decided to go to Robinsons Galleria instead of the usual Metro East/Sta. Lucia mall-ing. We watched The World Trade Center (starring Nicolas Cage as one of the commanding sgt. of a team dipatched to rescue people in the towers). The film concentrated on the life account of two policemen who experienced being buried in one of the collapsed tower for many hours. It was more of a feature story than a documentary account of what has happened that day of September 2001. The production didn't even show a single image of an airplane crashing the towers. not one bit. just sound effects of "the crash".

October 29, 2006, Sunday at home at church...

The much-awaited "long" vacation - October 30 - November 1, 2006 while a typhoon was passing by north-western part of the country, it was but timely to travel down South. Ayah's family minus her brother, and my mom & i took the road to Tanay going to Pagsanjan, Laguna. I was scheduled to witness Aiza & Bro. Joel's nuptial as one of the groomsmen. After Ayah paid a courtesy call to Pagsanjan Mayor ER Ejercito, we checked in at a nearby hotel just in the heart of Pagsanjan town proper. It was my first time in Pagsanjan but too bad, the recent weather didn't allow us to visit the falls :( anyway, there's always a "next time".

We just decided to visit Ayah's relatives and jumped in from one house to another. I love old houses (see photo below, left). They reflect a very simple life, uncomplicated.

We only had two places to dine: Durafe & Yellow Bell Of course, Jollibee is an exception (yes, Ayah & i had late night 'snack' at Jollibee in Sta. Cruz) Ayah's enthusiasm was nearly spoiled when their salary wasn't given promptly. It was credited at later day of the 31st. so i was covering her supposed "treat" to everyone (hehehe...) until she got her money. anyway, we're not talking money here. it's the company that counts most, and together with your loved ones, it simply made our vacation more than complete.



We also did last minute shopping at an RTW store in the town of Sta. Cruz where i was able to buy polo for me and Jason, a t-shirt for Ayah's dad, and one clothing for my mom. :)

Before going back to Rizal on the first day of November, we passed by our lot property in Tagaytay after we got lost on the way exiting Laguna towns going to Tagaytay. We took the South Luzon Tollway exit going to Manila when we finally gave up but my mistake in turning the steering wheel did led us to continue our first plan in visiting Tagaytay.

So we had our lunch at Leslie's (where else?) and afterwich, we visited our place and Ayah took a nice short dip at the clubhouse's pool. It sure made her day. :) Too bad again (for me) coz i can't accompany her in taking a dip at the pool coz i was driving the whole morning and must not risk of abusing my body in exchange of a short pleasure. so i just finished off the film in my camera with the swimming (and fully enjoying) Ayah as the subject.

we were all home in Rizal by the afternoon of the same day. "vacation" was over, and so is this story.