last day of 2007

wow. its fast. i mean, time. it seems just like yesterday when i was anticipating the coming of 2007 and now it's on its way to the exit. generally, the year has been good to me. i'll be having a re-cap (year-ender post) on my next entry. meanwhile, i just wanna post some note worthy things i've done for the past days:

first, i was delighted to see the Hernandez family who came home from Mississauga the other day. i met them after they attended the worship service at the central temple. they handed me the photo album i asked my sister to send over and i also handed the siblings some pinoy souvenir.



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one of the things i got myself was this pair of shoes from Beetle Bug courtesy of the gift checks given by our boss, and another 500 worth from Shareena. thanks also for the discounted price so i didn't have to spend a single cent on this:




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since ayah worked in SM, our common time has lessen and most of the time that i have no work schedule, i just can't help gathering myself, thinking on what to do, and spending time anywhere all alone. if my friends are observant enough, i occasionally send SMS to them asking if they are available for a stroll in the mall, or share a short chat time with me, but since everyone seems to have their own busy schedule, i just end up going places alone. suits me. it's like the old days when i am so alone. (haha, nag-emote pa). anyway, so while my dear ayah is busy on her job, i treated myself a cup of coffee. where else?





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last night, after humiliating myself from dancing Grease Lightnin' ala John Travolta, mom, ayah & i proceeded to Marikina to watch the fireworks display. of course, too much expectation resulted to disappointment. fireworks display not very spectacular. what awed me was the bridge along marcos highway being filled-up with parked car in anticipation for the fireworks display. yup, ladies and gentlemen. a public highway turning into a parking area in just a few minutes! onli in da pilipins! more amazing is, there was a firetruck being used for this leisure.





and as i was saying, fireworks display wasn't so spectacular:





but anyway... happy new year!

year-ending

...and it seems like it's just an ordinary work week. had a long day at work, a not-so-ideal last working day for the year, but definitely not uncommon too. there are deadlines to meet, reports to finish, and accountabilities cleared before the start of a new year. i still have a lot to do and those lined-up to the must-have-been-done list were not totally accomplished. i'm craving for a "new work environment". when i say that, i don't necessarily mean a totally NEW company and co-workers. i've got bigger things ahead of me and it's starting to make me think more than i should be worrying. i need to remind myself constantly to take it one day at a time. and just perfectly, my parents are leaving soon. it means i have to do things on my own plus do some obligations my dad is leaving behind. i need to be more organized. i hope ayah can complement me in my tasks but thinking that she's working in an operations environment, i should just wait for the time when she will finally share a home with me and then we can do things together. and besides, she's still needed by her own family. so for the meantime, my longed-for "independence" i should live with. thing is, i'm not that too amused with this so-called "independence" anymore. not that i'm too dependent on the people around me but it's not the same being alone. "No man is an island." it's true. no matter how one says he/she likes being alone (just like me), there is still a need for a companion--- someone you can talk to, someone who will lift you up when your down, someone who will cheer you up when you're gloomy... simply someone to be with and keep you sane.

anyway, i'm fully booked until the next workday. yes. work day. rough sked of mine starting tomorrow:

dec. 29 (sat) - finish & seal 15 envelopes and send to its respective destinations via courier (this is work-related. wow. on a supposed new year holiday)

- meet up with ayah before & after her shift.

- hopefully meet up a couple of friends.

- buy cable wire for video cam to connect with the PC.

- edit some video recordings.

- coordinate things in preparation for the locales year-end gathering.

- practice our performance for the year-end gathering (READ: i'll be dancing GREASE LIGHTNIN' ala john travolta, hehehe)

- do some groceries with ayah for our (me and moms) home needs

dec. 30 (sun) - perform in the choir on first WS schedule

- teach on Sunday School

- perform in the choir on the third WS schedule

- attend in our locale's year-end gathering

- proceed to Marikina Riverbanks with mom & ayah, and church mates to hold our 2008 planning for the KADIWA organization. bonus perks should be the fireworks display at around 10PM or so...

dec. 31 (mon) - locale year-end prayer

- date with ayah for the rest of the day, preparation for new year's eve*
* this sounds like more FOOD... grocery, grilling, cooking, house-hopping, food tripping, being a spectator around the metropolis display of fireworks...

- family prayer

jan. 01 (tue) - visit relatives in Pampanga with ayah.

- accompany ayah to work (end of day)

...well, that's probably it. new year. new things to look forward to. new people to meet. new chance of doing better in life. "keep new friends but remember the old ones."


some of us in the office pantry sharing our "in-anticipation-for-the-new-year" food


a more complete office personnel

A BLESSED 2008, everyone!

happy birthday, mamsi!

just got home from Tomas Morato where i treated mom for her birthday. her birthday actually was yesterday but since both of us were busy with our own schedules, we just had the date this evening. anyway, i bought her a dozen roses yesterday and left it on our dining table so when she arrived from her appointment, she actually saw it placed nicely on the table while i was out for my own schedule.

ok, since i was asking (and getting idea on) what joseph gave his mom for her birthday, i decided to just treat my mom for dinner at a fine-dine restaurant (and since i can't record myself greeting on a CD ala vlog entry). anyway, i haven't done that in her past birthdays, and since this is going to be my mom's last birthday celebration in the country, i really set this time aside to make it special for her. but the thing is, i am just used to dining in at fastfoods (jolibi, makdo, isawan ni aling eden...) so i needed to seek the help of a good friend, kuya ederic since he stays just a stone's throw away from the gimik place, Timog & Morato. finally we entered Little Asia which isn't exactly a steak house but food is good anyway (and affordable). thanks manong ederic for the tip! he also suggested Chili's and the other one Crab-Morato but i shied away from both establishments for one reason for each: i am not too fond of chili/hot/spicy food; and, crabs aren't my very favorite seafood.



a consolation we've had in dining at Little Asia was the fireworks display that originated beside Ratsky. 2008 na, pare!





next stop was even more delightful: coffee + kopi bun = kopi roti



...and we called it a day!

kwento

kahapon ay nakakundisyon akong magtrabaho at magtrabaho at magtrabaho. isa yata yung kahapon sa maraaaaaaaming LUNES na hindi ako nagreklamo. sa katunayan, maaga akong dumating sa opisina at maaliwalas ang pagmumukha ko, kahit napuyat ako nung isang gabi sa kakahintay matapos ng pagko-convert ng DAT file sa MP4 format ng kauna-unahang video na nailagay ko sa blog ko, na ito ay ang aming MTV Project noong nasa ikatlong taon ko sa pag-aaral ng kursong Mass Comm sa Pamantasan ng New Era.

inaasahan ko na ang pag-alis ni Lyn na naipakilala ko na dito, dahil sa kalagayan ng kanyang kalusugan. kinakailangan niya raw magpahinga. anyway, tamang mindset lang pala ang kailangan para hindi ako mabagot sa dami ng trabahong nakapila kong gawin. at kinakailangan matapos ko ang lahat hanggang biyernes na darating. may kukunin na naman daw kapalit ang aking bossing kaya ok lang. sana magbigay ng malaking bonus si boss. yun na lang ang huli kong inaasahan para makadagdag sa ipon ko na akin namang gagamitin para sa isang malaking bagay sa susunod na taon.

habang abala sa trabaho, naka-text ko ang dating kaklase na si jejie at ibinalita niyang nasa pahayagan ang pangalan niya kahapon, sa Lifestyle section ng PDI. wow. may PDI kami sa opisina kahapon. hinanap ko agad at binati siya (thru text pa rin) sa pagkakasama niya bilang honorable mention sa best featured actor play category ng ginanap na mga dula kamakailan. unang-unang pumasok sa isip ko si ginoong Gibbs Cadiz dahil pareho sila ng larangan. aba. kilala raw niya at si Gibbs pa raw ang nagrereview ng mga roles niya sa tanghalan. small world 'ika nga. sabi ko kay jejie, kilala ko lang si gibbs sa blogging world at di pa kami nagkikita ng personal. si jejie nga pala ang nag-direk ng MTV project namin at kaya ko rin sya naka-text ay upang ipa-alam na naipost ko sa blog yung nasabing proyekto. matagal na kase syang humihingi ng kopya eh hindi kami nagkikita para man lang mai-burn yung vcd copy. oh well...

pagkatapos ng oras ng trabaho ay sinundo ako ng aking itay sa opisina. aba. gusto niyang makipag-kwentuhan sa akin. hehe.. tumulak kami sa gusto niyang puntahan--- Starbucks (yakk). eh, siya ang manlilibre, sino ba naman ako para tumutol? so, nagtungo kami sa sangay nito sa White Plains. sige na nga. mabango na sa loob ng Starbucks. pero di ko pa rin gusto ang ambiance dun--- mga yuppies na magkakatabi at magkakaharap sa ISANG lamesa at may kanya-kanyang laptop. hello? hello?? itsura nyo. magkakape ba talaga, mag-uusap, o didisplay lang dun para ipakita na naka wi-fi access kayo habang sumisipsip ng kape na mas mahal pa sa halaga ng lutong-bahay na tanghalian ko kay manang? sabi ko nga, kung magbo-bonding lang kayo ng kasama mo at hanap ninyo'y kapeng masarap, dito na tayo!

maraming ihahabilin sa akin si itay. tutulak na sila sa Canada sa a-19 ng Enerong darating. lahat ng obligasyon sa bayarin, ako ang mag-aasikaso. natakot ako sa dami ng "itu-turn-over". nalulula ako. maga-upgrade din ako ng sasakyan pero magiging mas mahal ang maintenance nito. huwaw. iba na talaga ang magiging hinaharap ko sa darating na 2008. maraming magiging pagbabago. di na ko pwedeng maging isip-bata palagi. dapat ay maglista na ko ng mga gagawin ko dahil tiyak malilimutan ko ang iba sa kanila pag hindi ako gumawa ng checklist. home alone ako mula Enero hanggang Hulyo. independent. magpapakalugmok na muna ako sa trabaho at syempre, pagtupad ng mga tungkulin ko sa lokal. si ayah kaya, anong gagawin next year? hmm...?

pagkahiwalay namin ni itay ay dumiretso naman ako sa SM para sunduin si Ayah na inaakala kong makakalabas nang maaga dahil batay sa schedule nya dapat, 630 lang ay out na siya. pero hindi eh. mukhang dinadaig pa niya ngayon sa responsibilidad ang mall manager. hawak na niya yung dalawang building dun. tsk, tsk... laki na talaga ng tampo ko sa SM. minamaltrato na ang labs ko. pag nakita nyo si Ayah ngayon, tingting na ang katawan. hinintay ko na sya ng may dalawang oras. nag-ikot ako sa mall, napagod, at umupo sa isang tabi. kinontak ko si tongis at mabuti naman nakarating sya limang minuto bago magsara ang mall (hayy ten years ito!) minolestya namin yung tindera ng brownies. nagliligpit na pero bumili pa kami ng mahihigop na kape habang hinihintay pa ang may 30 minuto sa paglabas ni Ayah. ayun. nang makita ng iba pang tao na nagbebenta pa ang brownies, nagbilihan pa sila. medyo simangot na yung tindera pero wala kaming pakialam. aba. customer is always right (sabi nga di ba?) saka benta nya yun ano.

nagkwentuhan kami ni tongis at pinapanood ko sa kanya yung video na inihahanda namin para sa year-end ng lokal. naaliw sya. actually, iniinggit ko talaga sya. hehe. paraho kase kaming pangulo ng KADIWA, sa lokal lang siya ng Angono. kaya more or less nagkaka-intindihan kami ng mundo. pagkatapos, hinatid ko na si Ayah sa bahay nila at nakikain na rin ako doon dahil pinaghain kami ng hapunan ng butihin niyang ina. nagkwentuhan habang kumakain at umuwi na rin ako dahil lumalim na ang gabi.

yun lang.

plugging: panoorin nyo po ang aming MTV project noong college. Ako ang cameraman dyan. hehe. wala lang.

10 Truths, 5 Lies (par deux) REVEALED

ok.. i still have to do some office work but i'm too lazy to do them here at home. anyway, i have five days in a week dedicated for work so i will spare my remaining hours of my weekend to just take it easy... so. since i've posted the 2nd part of my 10 Truths, 5 Lies last june 14th, i'd like to reveal the truth and lies behind the 15 statements before this year expires. here goes:

1. i read first gospels and responsorial psalms during grade school first friday masses. TRUE. even if i am not Catholic, the school faculty staff admires my english reading (perhaps) so every first friday mass, they task me to lead the responsorial psalm.

2. i prefer eating with my hands rather than using spoon and fork. TRUE. whenever possible (even if inappropriate some time) i eat using my hands rather than using spoon and fork. mas masarap kumain ng naka-kamay :D

3. i know how to eat using chopsticks. TRUE. not an expert but yes i do eat using chopsticks sometimes. my dad taught me how when i was younger and fortunately, i can pick those food with barely two thin sticks on hand!

4. i have watched NBA - Live. TRUE. refer to the last photo of this post.

5. i have literally tasted the snow. TRUE. while walking under a snowfall when i was still in Mississauga, i stuck out my tongue and literally tasted the falling snow. good thing my tongue didn't freeze that time. lol. oh, the one i tasted was a bit salty.

6. i have 20-20 vision. LIE. i already wore two eyeglasses but amazingly my vision got corrected somehow after wearing the first pair of glasses: from 100-100 to 50-75. labo ng mata ko 'no?

7. i have dined in the 360 Revolving Restaurant of the CN Tower. LIE. one of my frustrations. even though i was able to climb up the CN Tower and entered the revolving restaurant up there (view was extra nice!), the cost of food hindered us (noriel, charlie & i) from dining in there. yep. kahit snack lang di rin kinaya. and they require reservation. next time, next time. hehe..

8. i have experienced working as a flower delivery boy. LIE. close but not. magdya-dyaryo po ang inyong lingkod.

9. i have experienced doing the teller function for the whole day in a bank where i used to work. LIE. i was asked to sit down in the teller counter for a day when 50% of our tellers was absent (2 out of 4), but i was brave (and stubborn) enough NOT to follow what our cash operation officer (COO) told me to do. "ma'am, ako pagte-teller-in nyo? gusto nyong umuwi tayong lahat ng alas-10 ng gabi? sarado na ang buong mall, hindi pa ko balanse." after getting scared of what i said, our COO just assigned my more senior new accounts partner to do the tellering task. i was left alone in the New Accounts Section and was given a WARNING when the day ended. :P

10. i have won a student council post during my college years. LIE. this is a dream of mine too late to have been realized.

11. my choir singing voice is tenor. TRUE. Tenor 2 to be precise. when i entered the college choir, i was first assigned in the baritone section but after a year with the group, i was transferred to tenor section and for three years until i graduated, it has been my choir voice.

12. i enjoy playing bowling. TRUE. after the frustrations of getting numerous "kanal" throws, i eventually enjoyed bowling. especially when i began hitting strikes and spares (not really so much.. just a couple or more per game). i still wanted to learn the art of throwing the ball with "pektus"

13. i learned driving when i was 14 years old. TRUE. my cousins and i were early learners in driving. we practiced during the unholy hours in the afternoon when our grandpa is sound asleep after having lunch. while he sleeps, we get his jeepney keys and hit the road, going around subdivisions and the plaza!

14. my mom and dad live separately. TRUE. woot! woot! my dad works in San Fernando Pampanga so he just comes home to us when there's an occasion here. and vice versa.

15. i won the "Best Cinematographer" award in our college Annual Mass Comm. Awards during my senior year. TRUE. one of my most precious achievements in college. pinaghirapan ko, pinuhunanan ko, hindi ko naman hinangad pero napasa-akin ang award. salamat po!


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finally, my very first video on my blog. This video launched my career as a cameraman and eventually nurtured me to have bagged the above-mentioned award during our senior year when we made our short films. This MTV however was made a year earlier, as this was a junior-year project under the subject BROAD 130 - Audio Video Procedures. memories... :P

random things 15-Dec. 2007

♠ half-way to the month and it's bye bye two oh oh seven!
♠ mom's on the phone, my aunt (her sis) on the other line. they're reading a speech for a wedding later where my mom's a principal sponsor. she hates giving speeches.
♠ speaking of the wedding, i'm her driver. ugh.
♠ i'm lazy. i want to eat my oishi popcorn and slack on the couch.
♠ midnight sale on SM Taytay tonight. ayah's sleeping over at a colleague's place after her shift. yes, i allowed her.
♠ did some office work at home today. still has some things to finish tonight or perhaps, tomorrow, still--- office work-related. sux.
♠ rajham's coming home from Canada anytime before this year ends. he's with his better-half and they both have something for me. woohoo!
♠ moms birthday coming up... any gift suggestions? (hi joe! what did you get your mom for her birthday?)
♠ 2008 is at the doors.....................................

a brand new coffee

i'm drinking a brand new coffee this morning. from the usual Nescafé Protect + Anchor powdered milk that i usually drink, i now sip a different mix: Great Taste Premium + Bear Brand powdered milk. My taste buds are still adjusting to the new mix. Anyway, i'll still get my cup of Nescafé later in the office. Aside from the intake of too much caffeine, i wonder what other side effects my being a kofi adiktus can bring me? i need to have a write up about coffee some time. anyway, speaking of coffee, i finally received my permanent Figaro Coffee Club Card (after ten years!) I really don't care if people today are going ga-ga over the Starbucks 2008 planner but i'm settled with Figaro. I feel more proud flashing out Figaro items than Starbucks anytime. it's proudly Pinoy! :) Some perks i get out of the Figaro Coffee Club membership:

Discounts and rewards
Get a 10% discount on every minimum purchase of P200 on food and drinks, OR complete the membership Gift Card and get an exclusive Figaro Coffee Club merchandise for free.

Another Cup on Us!
Enjoy a free 8oz. cup of brewed coffee, or 50% off on selected drinks when you purchase any coffee drink.

All you Birthdays Remembered
We'll give you a Chocolate Cake when you visit any Figaro Coffee Shop within the same month of your birthday, we'll treat you to a premium cake of your choice!

More Free Stuff!
As a new member, you're entitled to five complimentary drinks.

Events! Parties! Out-of-Town Tours! Figaro Coffee Club Members really get around: farm tours, coffee harvests, coffee seminars, parties and more! As a member, you'll have priority access to all our special activities, including preferential discounts and exclusives passes to events.

well, not at all that big but not bad for a person who simply wants a nice, simple break by sipping a cup of coffee in a very cozy and warm place.

kape tayo! ;)

it's been four years

...since i set my foot in Canada. good memories remain as i stayed there for almost one whole year, completing the four seasons i formerly just used to sing: "winter, spring, summer or fall, all you have to do is call..." after experiencing the four seasons, i have established to like the fall (autumn) season among the four. autumn season falls between September to November and it is when chilly winds are at its coldest. the season also showcases the beauty of nature--- colorful tree leaves everywhere anticipating its "fall". it also welcomes the coming of snowfall as winter follows the season. It is during autumn when the temperature begins to drop to almost zero degrees centigrade while wind chill can go as low as -30 degrees centigrade. yea.. feel it in your inner spine. it extends up to winter. then your air conditioning system at home turns into heater.


my favourite season


apple-picking! :)


aajao posing @ Niagara Falls


still at Niagara Falls, with family


posing @ Toronto City Hall


mom and dad with their grandchildren at CNE (Canadian National Exhibition)- Toronto, Canada


still at CNE, this time riding the sky glider with niece and brother in law


with old folks, father side - Brampton


niece & nephew creating snow angels


my first NBA Live experience: Toronto Raptors vs Washington Wizzards

onto the weekend

nice, nice, nice... it's Friday, thank God. although i had my VL yesterday, still i'm thankful that it's the weekend. the only thing online with me yesterday was my twitter mobile. talk about spending on international messaging again. sheesh. anyway, twitter keeps me posted on what's going on around through the updates posted by my twitter friends. and it makes me recall the earthquake that happened last week, and also the Manila Pen event that transpired the same week, twitter was the fastest update i was receiving in connection with the issues. oh well, i still like the wireless journal. lol. :P

so yesterday the girls went shopping while i stood by their side wherever they went (or actually got sleepy the whole shopping time), as we got a few clothes for ayah's cousins. had a nice time though even if i really don't dig spending my whole day in a department store just looking around things to buy. anyway, i had my consolation. ayah got me this "call center jacket" from Molecules. -->
well, i tagged it as a "call center jacket" since it's the kind that most call center people wear in their work. nice stuff and i liked it also since i really don't have something to warm me up whenever the office aircon blows a chilly air in spite of its temperature set to 25 degrees celsius. must be the rainy and "ber" weather creeping into the season. We gave Patricia a treat yesterday. Fetched her from school, had lunch together then took her shopping. before we left the mall, she bought some chocolate-coated apples somewhere in front of Toy Kingdom as instructed by her mom, then finally took her home to Wack Wack. while at her place, i took the opportunity to check on Lyn, my new office partner, and ask what transactions came in for the day. the thing i was afraid off was realized--- purchase orders intended to be paid first were faxed to the principal for delivery.. yaiks! i immediately called the principal and instructed them to hold the purchase orders then called back Lyn to inform her about it. hayy... bakit ganun? parang wala akong karapatang mag-leave, kung hindi, magkakaroon ng aberya sa trabaho? :(

ayah and i proceeded to the supermarket to get some stuffs for myself: Anchor powdered milk, nagaraya adobo & barbecue flavor, oishi caramel popcorn, and, 1 kilo guapple. hehe puro pagkain :P we just took a bite at Mcdonalds afterwards, i just had 6-pcs chicken nuggets without rice. tapos, nakisipsip na lang ako sa iced tea ni Ayah. hehe... i really was sleepy so i asked ayah to have us a half-body massage in some massage parlor in the mall. *note: she saw the brother of joseph b. who was also looking at us, probably recalling Ayah and inquiring who she was with in replacement for his brother. hehehe. anyway, this not-so-first-class massage parlor we got into was ok for us to be relaxed (and i took a nap) for about 45 - 50 minutes. then we headed home and called it a day.

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Lyn is my 4th official Customer Service Associate partner since our company launched way back in 2005. She is the only CSA approved as per my recommendation since i was insisting to my immediate superior that i already know how she works. She should be a BIG help to me and to the department, and to the company as a whole. I just feel that Lyn needs to adjust sooner since it's still evident that she's still into her previous work & peers. I just hope she sees the advantages in working with our company for her own good. anyway, it only means one thing for me: pwede nang magkasakit! LOL.

World AIDS Day, Family Planning, At Sex Education

Noong Sabado ay ginunita ng mundo ang World AIDS Day. Mula nang ilunsad ang kilusang ito may dalawang dekada na ang nakakaraan, hindi pa rin ganap na nauunawaan ng karamihan ang ukol sa bagay na ito. Kaya marahil ay ikinampanya sa taong 2007 ang pagpapalaganap ng kaalaman ukol rito sa pamamagitan ng komunikasyon. Para sa ilang kaalaman, narito ang hango sa http://www.worldaidsday.org/hivf_hiv_facts:

> Ang HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus) ay karaniwang umaatake sa immune system ng isang tao--- ang pananggalang ng katawan laban sa mga sakit.

> Magkaiba ang HIV at AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). Maaaring ang isang tao ay HIV positive pero hindi nangangahulugang meron agad siyang AIDS. Masasabi lamang na nagdevelop na ang tao ng AIDS kung umabot na sa puntong napakahina na ng immune system nito at hindi na kayang pigilan ang mga sakit sa katawan.

> Walang lunas sa HIV subalit may gamot para panatilihing kontrolado ang virus na ito at malusog ang immune system.

Para naman maiwasan ang pagkakaroon ng HIV, narito ang ilang kaalaman mula sa http://www.worldaidsday.org/hivf_hiv_prevention:

> Hindi makukuha ang HIV mula sa isang taong HIV positive sa pamamagitan ng mga sumusunod: pakikipaghalikan, paghawak, pag-ubo, pagbahing, paggamit ng isang toilet seat, pagligo sa isang swimming pool, paggamit ng parehong kubyertos sa pagkain.

> Upang maipasa sa ibang tao ang HIV, narito ang ilang dapat iwasan: pakikipagtalik ng walang proteksyon (condom), paggamit ng isang infected needle sa ibang tao, pagsilang mula sa isang ina na HIV positive.

Sa ganang akin, iminumungkahi ko na lumagi sa pakikipagtalik sa isa lamang na partner.

Ang pagpaplano ng pamilya ay isang bagay na naimulat sa akin ng paaralan at ng mga ad campaign ng pamahalaan noon pa mang ako ay nasa high school pa. yun nga lang, hindi pa ganun ka-bukas ang gobyerno sa impormasyon ng iba't-ibang pamamaraan upang matugunan ang epektibong pagpa-plano ng pamilya. marahil ito ay sa kadahilanang malaki pa ang pasintabi (noon) ng pamahalaan sa simbahan (Katoliko). Sa ngayon, nakakatatlong taon na ang administrasyong Arroyo at ang bansa ay nababalot ng iba't-ibang isyu na may kinalaman sa politika. nakakalungkot dahil ang isa sa mga suliranin ng bansa ay halos hindi napagtutuunan ng pansin ng pamahalaan. isa sa maraming suliraning dapat na hinaharap ng masinsinan ng gobyerno ay ang patuloy na paglobo ng populasyon sa ating bansa. ako ay naniniwala na ang pag-kontrol dito ay may malaking maitutulong upang maging maalwa ang buhay ng mga Pilipino, hindi man ngayon ay sa hinaharap na panahon. natutunan ko sa basic economy ang kaugnayan ng supply & demand sa isa't-isa. akala ko pa naman ay ekonomista ang naluklok na pangulo subalit tila yata hindi nabibigyang-pansin itong aspetong ito. kung ang bawat pamilyang Pilipino ay may sapat lamang na bibig na pakakainin, hindi tayo hahantong sa pagkakulang ng pangangailangan: pagkain, pananamit, at tahanan. Isa rin ito marahil sa dahilan kung bakit mas ninasa kong maluklok sa pagkapangulo ng bansa noon ang katunggali ng kasalukuyang administrasyon na si Ping Lacson. sa lahat kase ng kumandidato sa pagkapangulo ng bansa noong 2004, si Lacson lang ang may konkretong plataporma ukol sa family planning. hindi man niya iminungkahing tularan ang one-child policy ng bansang Tsina, halos gayun din ang magiging patakaran sana niya ukol sa isyung ito. isang bagay na bago marahil para sa mga Pilipino at magiging mahirap sa simulang pagsasakatuparan nito, pero ang magiging resulta ay long-term. ibig sabihin, mararamdaman natin ang pakinabang sa mga susunod na henerasyon.

hindi madali ang buhay natin ngayon. di tulad noon, magkaroon man ng isang dosenang anak ang mag-asawa, karaniwan lang ito. pero ngayon ay ibang kwento na. mahal na ang lahat ng bagay: bilihin, pagkain, tuition fee, gamit sa paaralan, allowance ng estudyante, gasolina, atbp. kaya isang mabuting bagay na ang bawat pamilyang pilipino ay matutong magplano ng pamilya. hindi lamang upang makaiwas sa sobra at sunud-sunod na gastusin, ang pinakamahalaga sa pag-aagwat ay ang pagkakaroon ng sapat na panahon at atensyon sa pangangalaga at pagpapalaki ng anak. harapin natin ang realidad. kapag sunud-sunod ang taon ng anak ay hindi gaanong nabibigyan ng sapat na pagkandili ang bawat isa. nahahati maging ang atensyon at oras, hindi lamang ang materyal na bagay na nararapat iukol sa kanila.

Maging ang aking pinaniniwalaang kautusan bilang Kristiyano ay sumasang-ayon sa pagpa-plano ng pamilya. matapos basbasan ng Diyos ang mga unang tao, pinahayo niya ito sa lupa upang magpakarami. Subalit kasunod ng kautusang pagpapakarami ay agad ring sinundan ng Diyos ng gabay ang tao na ito ay kanilang dapat supilin (Genesis 1:28). dito nagkakaroon ng bahagi ang pamamaraan ng mag-asawa upang magawa ang tamang pag-aagwat ng panganganak ng isang ina. hindi masama, bagkus nakabubuti para sa mag-asawa ang paggamit ng artificial methods sa pakikipagtalik upang matugunan ang tamang pag-aagwat ng panganganak. hangga't hindi iminumungkahi ng isang artificial method ang abortion o pagpatay ng fetus sa sinapupunan ng babae, maaari itong gamitin. ilan sa mga ligtas na paraan ay ang paggamit ng condom, pills at vials na ini-inject sa babae upang mapigilan ang pagiging fertile niya sa panahon ng pagtatalik ng mag-asawa. ang condom naman ay hindi lamang mabisang gamit para sa hindi pagbubuntis, ito rin ay mabisang gamit upang makaiwas sa STD (sexually-transmitted disease). pero gaya ng nabanggit ko sa unahan, pinakamainam pa rin na lumagi lamang sa isang partner upang maiwasan ang mga suliraning maaaring makasalamuha sa hinaharap.

kaugnay ng paggamit ng artificial methods, hindi ko iminumungkahi na gamitin ito ng isang lalaki at babae sa walang hanggang pagtatalik, kung kailan nila maibigan. laging tatandaan sana: lahat ng bagay na inyong ginagawa ay may katapat na responsibilidad. bagama't hindi ako pabor sa pre-marital sex at extra-marital sex, isang katotohanan sa panahon ngayon ang pagkakaroon ng ugnayang-sekswal ng mga tao sa iba't-ibang partner. ang nakalulungkot pa rito, karamihan sa mga kabataang nakikipagtalik na sa murang edad (15 to 18) ay hindi nauunawaan ang responsibilidad na kaakibat nito kapag ito ay nagbunga. ang sex ay hindi nilikha para lamang pampasarap. kung hindi mo kayang panagutan ang magiging bunga ng sandaling sarap na ginawa mo, huwag kang sasabak dito. isa pa, kapag dinapuan ka ng STD sa minsang pagkakamali mo, masasabi mo ring "nasa huli nga ang pagsisisi". sa modernong kaisipan at panahon ngayon, nananatili ako sa panig na ang pakikipagtalik ay pinakamasarap pa ring gawin sa taong mahal mo--- ang taong kasama mong binasbasan sa harap ng Diyos, saksi ang mga taong malapit sa inyong dalawa, at siyang kasama mo sa pagpaplano ng pamilya, pagpapalaki ng mga anak, at pamumuhay ng maligaya sa hinaharap.

hahaha!

putek naaliw ako dito.. hindi lang ito ang video clip, series pa ito..
"Go Bords! " hahaha!!!

mahahabang mga araw

mula pa nung lunes ay napapagod na ako, isipin ko pa lang ang mga nakatakdang gawin sa opisina. inasahan ko nang magiging abala ako sa maghapon hanggang abutin ng kung anumang oras, maisara ko lamang lahat ng transaksyong dapat matapos nang araw na iyon. kinabukasan kase, nakatakda kong gamitin ang isa sa walong VL ko. cool. bakasyon. pero bago ko nasabing "let's call it a day", nagdugo muna ang ilong ko sa gulo ng mga transaksyon ng mga hawak ni sir bodjie. LAHAT ng ipinasok niyang transaksyon, halos bulilyaso. nagkagulu-gulo tuloy ang records namin na naisumite na noong katapusang araw pa nang nagdaang buwan. kailangang ulitin ang ulat. hayy... pasado alas-otso na yata ako nakalabas ng opisina. pagod. hapo. at sabik sa kinabukasan. hayy.. ulit. ikinain ko na lang ng burger steak ang mahabang araw ng lunes.

kinabukasan ay masaya akong gumising. kase, date namin ni ayah at meron na kaming itinerary: San Fernando Pampanga! yey! sakay ng vios ni inay, binaybay namin ang kahabaan ng NLEX at nakipagkita sa aking itay. pinuntahan namin sya sa opisina at pagkatapos ay sinamahan niya kaming umikot sa mga dapat naming puntahan. syempre, FREE lunch! hay, sarap-buhay:





pagkatapos ng pamamasyal na iyon ay dumiretso kami sa Jomark Photography para naman isara ang deal na nauna na naming pinag-usapan noong nakaraan pang linggo. pagkaalis namin sa opisina nila ay tumulak naman kami ni ayah sa bahay ng lola ko sa Minalin dala ang isang kilo ng seedless grapes na pasalubong namin sa kaniya para sa kaarawan niya kinabukasan (ngayon, ika-21 ng Nobyembre). pero bago yun, namili muna kami ni ayah ng ilang kilo ng tocino, skinless longganisa, at hotdog sa Tita's Special pampasalubong sa mga taga-Maynila. balik sa bahay ni lola (hehe), nagpahinga lang kami ni ayah sandali, nakipagkwentuhan, nag-ikot ng kaunti sa palibot ng bahay ng tita ko at nagpaalam na rin upang muli na kaming lumuwas sa Maynila. ayoko rin kasing gabihin una, malabo ang mata ko, pangalawa, may ensayo pa kami sa ganap na ikawalo't kalahati ng gabi. pero bago namin binaybay pa-timugan ang NLEX, nag stop-over muna kami sa bilihan ng mga paso. naaliw si ayah sa napakaraming tinitindang paso sa may bayan ng Sto. Tomas, barrio Sto. Nino. naalala niya si papa deng na napakahilig mag-alaga ng halaman. bumili ng ilang paso si ayah potter (hehe, ganda ng pangalan mo!) at pag-uwi ay buong galak na ipinasalubong sa kaniyang lolo. pagkahatid kay ayah sa kanilang tahanan ay tumulak na ako sa lokal para dumalo ng ensayo.

kanina, isang mahaaaaaabang araw na naman ang hinarap ko sa opisina. andami ko nang nakatambak na gawain. mabuti na lang sa a-tres ng susunod na buwan ay to the rescue na si super Lyca! abangan kung sino siya!

beautiful place corrupted

alam kong malapit na ang holiday season at magsisimula nang kumalat ang mga tiangge sa bawat lugar na maaaring pag-usbungan nito pero baka may makakapagpaliwanag kung bakit meron nang ganitong bilihin sa loob ng paborito kong tambayan, ang Tiendesitas?



Nang kuhanan ko ito ng larawan kahapon ay katabi ko lang ang isang mag-ina na tumitingin ng mga VCDs sa gawing kaliwa ko. Halos gusto kong takpan yung mga CDs na hindi dapat naka"bilad" ng ganoon habang ang may-ari (nagtitinda) ay kumakain sa katabing lamesa na malapit sa pwesto nya. Wow. Ano kayang reaksyon nung nanay kung pinulot at nasabik alamin nung anak nyang nasa edad 7-9 yung "Sikreto Ni Kuya"?

Pinoy Vlogging In A Personal Bloggers Perspective

Jon: For you, what is blogging?
aajao: When I first learned about blogging, I immediately got eager to try it out for the sole reason of having a diary--- an online diary.

Jon: How long have you been blogging?
aajao: My blogspot (03.03.03 stories...) started in March 3rd, 2003, hence the blog title. Then I started another blog on the same year but in a much later month, which is exclusive for my spiritual thoughts and not so many people are given it's URL address. I wasn't satisfied of having just two so I ended up making another "blog" account in xanga.com, whose main "audience" are my church mates in Canada.

Jon: Canada?
aajao: Yes, Canada. I got to visit the eastern part of Canada and it is where I was introduced to xanga by the younger people.

Jon: So you've been blogging for over four years now..
aajao: I can say five years over since I used to subscribe to PEx Plus Private, a private online journal sponsored by PinoyExchange.com. That was around 2001-2002. And together with that, it also offered the Wireless Journal feature, the local version of todays twitter.com

Jon: Wow. That was a long journey through blogging. So, what are the usual contents of your blogs?
aajao: From the start, I blog to post updates on what is going on with my life, document what my mind wants to speak out and sometimes blurt out my own opinion on certain news events or social issues, especially those that affect the Filipino people.

Jon: And do you enjoy reading other blogs?
aajao: Hmm... it depends. If I am interested with the person then naturally I'd be enjoying reading his/her blog.

Jon: Have you heard about Pinoy vlogging?
aajao: seriously, it was only introduced to me by Coy just this year. Well, vlogging, that is, and since Coy is Pinoy, then I guess he and his "work of art" can together be labeled as Pinoy vlogging, don't you think so?

Jon: Well, yeah. So what can you say about Pinoy vlogging?
aajao: Ok, let me see... first, I'd like to put into words my amusement in the term "vlogging". So I've learned that it is a shortened term for the two words "video" & "blogging". From the words combined, I can easily define that vlogging is an online anecdote of the authors life (or adventures) posted in video. In this case the author is not only considered as a plain author of his blog but also an artist.

Jon: What brought about your last statement?
aajao: Well, I can tell that making a vlog post isn't as simple as ABC. Every vlog post is treated as special--- with a subject ready to be broadcasted, the artist will still need to conceptualize his visuals and proper approach. There lies the difference between blogging and vlogging. In blogging, you can easily write about a certain topic in different angles. In vlogging, it takes a good amount of time to conceptualize, put into script your subject, then prepare the materials to be used for the shoot. You also need to check on your audio. And oh yea, did I already mention about the editing?

Jon: Wow. You sound like a veteran vlogger.
aajao: Never been one. I'm camera shy. :P Kidding aside, I have maintained my blogs to be personal in nature and I intend to keep them as is.

Jon: Oh, okay. So, how do you envision the future of Pinoy vlogging?
aajao: vlogging in the Philippines isn't really an established "medium" of Pinoy bloggers yet. Yet. With all the technology that we have these days and it will be more advanced in the future, vlogging might just become the next blogging trend in the Pinoy blogosphere. For one, Pinoys are creative and passionate with their choice of tasks. Pinoys enjoy reaching out to others by all means, and vlogging is a great opportunity to realize this trait of ours. With vlogging, you not only give your audience the chance to know you by the way you write but it also gives them the chance to get a better "picture" of the authors/artists personality.

Jon: Ok one last question, will you make a vlog entry?
aajao: hmm... we'll see.

- fin -

itakuwil ang walang habas na pagkitil ng buhay

kahit ang mababang kapulungan ng bansang Pilipinas ay panaka-nakang nagiging circus sa mata ng sambayanang Pilipino, tao rin sila na katulad natin: may pamilya, may mga anak na umaasa at naghahanap ng kalinga, may mga magulang na kumukuha ng inspirasyon at lakas upang magpatuloy sa buhay sa kabila ng katandaan, nagtatanggi ng sarili para sa kapakanan ng bayan... may karapatang kumain, magsaya, mabuhay.

anumang dahilan ng trahedyang ito, diversionary tactic, terorismo, personal, o anupaman... hindi ito sapat para sadyain ang pagkitil ng buhay ng may buhay.

nakikiramay ako sa mga iniwan ni Basilan Representative Wahab Akbar, sa mga mahal sa buhay ng ilan pang nasawi at sa mga sugatan na sa kasalukuyan ay ginagamot sa mga ospital na pinagdalhan sa kanila.

Tuesday Delight

after an exhausting day at work, i was so looking forward to have a date (so rare this time) with Ayah as she visited and fetched me in my office today. After getting full eating pasta at Chef D' Angelo, we strolled around and entered this Kultura-inspired store. I am really fond of Philippine handicrafts and products. The store was small but we stayed a bit longer just looking at the different Philippine-made products on display. Afterwards, we visited TimeZone to look for a KTV room since both of us were eager to try something new (on a date) and we both felt like we were in a screaming mood. :P Lo and behold! A vacant KTV room! We immediately purchased a new TimeZone card (more than a years quarter since we lost the first TimeZone card we were using before) and excitedly entered the room. Since we both were eager to grab a microphone (good thing they have two), we had a great time singing some songs. yea, just SOME since we were able to enter the room when closing time was already less than an hour away. But still, it's something new from the usual coffee time together. Almost all songs entered were my choice, were shared by us, duet, and the most classic among the list we sang was Paul McCartney version of Ebony And Ivory. Highest-pitched song on the list played and sung was Rockstar's (original) version of Parting Time, while the cheesiest song on the list sung was Chad Borja's Ikaw Lang. Had a great night:





..and it's so nice to call it a day!

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happy birthday to the prominent Pinoy vlogger... Philip Marco Caballes a.k.a. "Coy". His birthday gift to the blogosphere? Extension of his mini-blogging project from 2359HRS of November 13th to 2359HRS of November 15th. Every blogger is encouraged to join! Coy's official promotional banner:

lasting friendships

people. they come and go. in your life, you meet people who turn out to be your friends. among them, there are those who become your close friends. and still among those, someone comes out to be your best friend.

time. once it passed, we can't take it back. only memories can bring time back. but still, it remains intangible.

in my lifetime i can not count how many people became my friends and how many among them chose to stay away and forget. i have more than a handful of friends whom i can entrust my life with. i know it's good and it reflects also how good a friend i am to them. or maybe not. but they love me as i am and in return, i can entrust them my life.

i tend to group my friends and while i have many of them, i see to it they don't gather in one occasion. i am not good in attending to different groups of people even if all of them are my friends. i prefer small groups at a time. i prefer quality conversation with them over large, random get-together or parties. i'd like to reach out to them if there is time shared together. i'd love listening to them and hearing out the latest things about their lives, and hopefully they also get interested with mine.

new friends don't really differ with old-time friends, for me. they are my friends just the same. the only difference, maybe, is that these new friends need to know me better and it will still take time for them to get comfortable with me unlike my old-time friends who have seen the good and the not-so-good side of me all throughout the years that we've been friends. for these new friends, instinct plays an important role. impressions may be wrong but the feeling of togetherness will tell one if your friendship with the person will be worth keeping or not.

i have never imagined that the cyberworld can create such bond among people. i have had a good number of online buddies who eventually become my close friends and went as far as being siblings to each other. they are now my real-life pals and i intend to keep them for life. i know the feeling's mutual--- keeping friends for life, that is.

thanks to the following people: jary, ivy, kerwin, LA, friend Mariel, Abby (froggy buddy)--- the online buddies i am talking about. they have made me realize that the online world is an open sea good enough for catching gold fishes. online pals who make a difference, making me comfortable surfing around: Ada, joveelark, paul (JENSIE), jhengskie, rose (hope to meet you sometime and share those cups of coffee we've been planning since last year), PnuT, Alene, Mads, and the many PEx pals i interact with... you are my foundation in this online world and with you i have learned that not all online people are pretentious.

to the new breed of online pals whom i am currently getting in touch with through twitter, commenting blogs and exchanging links with, i am trying very hard to establish a friendship that i am hoping to also last for a lifetime. i feel comfortable with most of you and i know building that kind of friendship isn't just a snap of a finger.

to all my long-lost friends, some maybe overseas, if you happen to stumble upon this blog of mine, i haven't forgotten you. and i wish that when we see each other again, we can at least revive the good ol' days, when life was much simpler, and i am still this sentimental fool that i used to be.






"no man is an island." a person feels the need of having a sense of belongingness. no matter how comfortable one may be in being a loner or away from the crowd, the person can never deny the feeling of having someone by his side. someone he can talk to and vent out all his inner thoughts and feelings with. everyone needs an audience. someone who will see and listen, and eventually give feedback. someone whom he can communicate with if his immediate family isn't available. someone he can lean on and serve as his sounding board when he's having difficult times with his love interest or better half. FRIENDSHIP. it's an overrated word. i sincerely hope we all see its real essence for each and everyone whom we call "friends."

exhausting day.

♫ woke up.
♫ took mom to her service @ shell gas station.
♫ attend to NAWASA workers.
♫ took a bath.
♫ dress-up.
♫ commute to work: tricycle, jeepney*, tricycle & another tricycle, then cross the dangerous e.rodriguez jr. avenue
♫ work, work, work, lunch, work... work.
♫ commute going to ayah's place: jeepney, and another jeepney.
♫ eat dinner @ ayah's place. she's still at work.
♫ fetch ayah with his brother.
♫ they took me home.
♫ wait for mom.
♫ update blog.
♫ call it a day.

*jeepney story: i was sitting next to a snatcher this morning on my way to work. long story. i'm lazy to elaborate the details now. sorry. :|

on another note, SM City - Taytay is being prepared for its opening on Friday, November 9th:



Did you notice the RED Carpet? Kim Chui will be there in the opening. hmm... may hawig pala sya ni Sandara (ex ni j.bitangcol)... mas cute pa rin si Mads a.k.a. Leigh ng PEx.

newly-discovered TFP Model

I have found a new TFP--- Trust Family Program model last Friday, the 2nd of November. He was discovered somewhere in Scout Ybardolaza St. in Quezon City and letting me in to his pad, i didn't waste time in getting a photo shoot of this new TFP model:





bagay... hehehe. ;)
nagtatanong pa yan ng sample products. hahaha! PEACE! :D

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"patay akong bata ako." was my twitter's update before i left our office. Here's the story in the simplest way that can be described:

1. order referrals emailed to me on the 30th & 31st of October
2. promo & deals are only good until the end of October
3. 30th we had the weekly meeting and the rest of the day i have to immediately attend to the distributors orders
4. referrals not forwarded since past 6 already, i'm not yet done. no one will be receiving the faxed referrals anyway at that time.
5. 31st, the orders poured in. i have six pending P.O.'s from yesterday (30th) and processed them in the morning.
6. P.O.'s didn't stop coming, and i needed to update the trade deals report everytime, including the summary of sales.
7. still undone with the processing of orders, i have to leave for Mercury Drug and collect their dues with us.
8. came back to the office around past 5PM and still processing orders.
9. update summary and other reports until almost 8PM.
10. and of course, no one will be receiving the referrals by that time so they were stuck for two days.
11. not to mention, the borrowed printer from our GM is slow.\, unlike (of course) the laser jet that we had.

i have been crying to my immediate superior to fast track the seeking (then eventually, hiring) of another CS person and its taking them over a decade (ten years ito!) to process the whole thing. i'm all by myself, everyday five days a week, 8+ hours a day:







aaargghhh...