another week has gone

and i'm just delighted that cut-off day has passed. yeah. cut-off. while cut-off week may be hell-like days in the office, cut-off day is THE hell. i've been running after distributors ALL DAY, and have to stay in the office until past 6 in the evening to fax orders (when the usual cut-off time is at 3PM), and still has to stay for about an hour or more consolidating final figures for the report. career-wise, cut-off means the last day for our distributors purchase orders to be counted as sell-in for the month. sell-out is another story and i'm not discussing them now. i so hate condoms. but only on cut-off days. :p

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

our preparations for the big day are being cooked slowly but surely. last Saturday, ayah & i accomplished a lot --- we went to Recto and submitted the final draft for printing after a little lengthy discussion at church and settled the schedule conflict. then we also revisited Oscar who will handle the chow and he offered his other services. we'll check 'em out today. last wednesday, ayah went to Divisoria to get some stuffs. while preparations should run smoothly, you can never fail to have some arguments. lol. its part of the whole thing. no arguments = abnormal relationship. yeah, i won't take that statement back coz it's true. but at the end of the day, both of you will just laugh it out after charo santos has covered your dramatic moments. lol. ok. i need money. I NEED MONEY.

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

a couple of weeks back, i have met with ker & jawee v. while waiting for ayah's time off. we met at Shang, eat (may iba pa bang gagawin) and used kerwin's camera for some photo shoots. of course, the meet could have been happier if we were joined by other buddies like LA, who was in the vicinity that day but declined to go since i won't give hime free ride going home, LOL, and mommy ivan who can't make it. friend mariel, nedz, paul, jheng and the rest of the gang could also set up a meet before my big day. we miss each others company. we've not met in summer, maybe rainy days can bind us together again. coffee?? :)

speaking of coffee, makipag-kapehan muna sa BK Crew mamaya at sa darating na Sabado sa paglulunsad ng blogs nina Jun Lozada (mamaya ito sa Kape Tasyo) at ni Among Ed Panlilio (sa susunod na Sabado ito, June 7).
Sa dalawang personalidad, mas naiintriga ako sa blog launching ni Among Ed. Mukhang mas marami siyan maiba-blog. bilang punong-lalawigan ng isang probinsyang nalugmok sa hagupit ng lumipas na kalamidad, at nabugbog din sa hindi magandang sistema ng politika, sa palagay ko ay mas aabangan ang blog ni Among Ed, hindi lang ng mga cabalen kundi maging ang mga taong naniniwala sa hangarin ni Among Ed para sa kapakanan ng lalawigan. mas mabuti sana kung siya mismo ang laging maga-update ng blog nya at mas maganda kung personal blog ang magiging tema nito. "outside politics" 'ika nga, para mas makilala naman ng tao ang gobernador ng Pampanga sa kabila ng kaniyang posisyon sa lalawigan. Ang iba pang detalye sa blog launchings na ito ay mababasa rito: Bloggers Kapihan.
sarap magkape!

Ang Kulturang Pilipino at Ang Bahay Ni Kuya

"No TV. No radio. No newspapers. No telephones. No internet! Totally no communication with the outside world..." - (Pinoy) Big Brother House Rules

Hindi ko na sana gagawan pa ng blog entry itong ukol sa Pinoy Big Brother dahil hindi naman ako naging interesado rito simula pa nung makakuha ng franchise nito ang ABS CBN. Pero mainit ang pagtanggap sa programang ito ng maraming mga Pilipino. Marahil ay sa likas na hilig nating mga pinoy na maki-usyoso sa "buhay" ng ibang tao... ito kaseng nabanggit na programa ay kinatatampukan ng sama-samang "pamumuhay" ng ilang mga piling tao sa iisang bubong. Merong mga gawaing nakahanda para sa kanila si "kuya" at sa huli ay may gantimpala para sa maiiwan o hindi mapapalabas sa bahay ni kuya. tipong ganun.

Kahit saan ko silipin, ang programang ito ay hindi mapapagkamaliang banyaga. ang "set-up" sa bahay ni kuya ay hindi kababakasan ng anuman sa kulturang Pilipino at ito ang pinakadahilan, marahil, kung bakit turn-off agad ako rito.

Nakatatawag ng pansin, sa aking pagbaybay sa mga blogs, merong isang blogger na pumuna sa isang edisyon ng Big Brother Teen UK, na kung saan ang mga kasali sa Big Brother House ay nasa edad 18, higit o kulang pa. grabe naman pala ang mga nagaganap doon. mga teenagers na nakikipagtalik sa kasamahan nila sa bahay... habang napapanood ng buong bansa! (kung ikaw ay nasa legal na edad, maaari mong i-click ang link: Teen Big Brother UK, wow!) kung titignan pa ang "related videos" ng youtube, makikita na hindi lang minsan nangyayari ang ganito at hindi lang sa bansang UK. tapos bigla kong naalala... ginaya na rin natin ito sa pinoy big brother: mga teenagers na hindi magkaka-ano-ano subalit magkakasama sa bahay ni kuya.

Kung meron mang maituturong maganda para sa mga batang iyan ang pagsasama-sama nila sa Bahay ni Kuya, marahil ay ang mga sumusunod: pagiging independent sa magulang, pagpapayaman ng pakikisama sa kapuwa, "mahanap" ang sarili. wala na akong maisip, kung meron pa ay malaya ang "feedback section" ng blog entry na ito para sa mga tumatangkilik ng palabas. pero, wala sa programa ang pamilya. nasaan na ang pagpapahalaga sa dapat sana ay unang kanlungan ng bawat batang Pilipino? Sa pagbibigay ng pagkakataon sa maagang kalayaan ng mga bata, mas natututo silang manganlong sa sarili at umasa sa (mga bagong) kaibigan o bagong kakilala kaysa sa sariling pamilya. iba ang mundo sa loob at labas ng sariling tahanan. kapag nagkamali ka sa labas, yung nasa loob ng unang tahanan mo rin ang sasalo sa 'yo. kahit yung "adult edition" ng bahay ni kuya, parang mas nananaig ang tukso sa loob ng bahay kaysa mapanatiling matatag ang pamilyang "iniwanan" sa labas ng bahay ni kuya. ano ba talaga ang pagpapahalaga (values) na naituturo ng programang ito? talaga bang dapat tayong maging proud sa pagkakaroon ng ganitong uri ng "bahay" dito sa ating bansa? maipapakita ba natin sa mundo, sa pamamagitan ng bahay ni kuya, na iba talaga tayong mga Pinoy? kung oo, iba tayo saan?

Biyernes Na?!

yay! ang bilis. biyernes agad? :(

huling blog post ko nung Sabado pa pala pagkauwi galing sa aming stormy summer outing. hehehe... bullet muna:

☼ Linggo, Mayo 18 - pagkatapos ng mabiyayang pagtupad ng obligasyon sa Lumikha, sinamahan ko si Ayah sa kanilang mini-event sa White Plains. Pero bago yun, nag-almusal muna kami sa Figaro ni ayah sa may THE STRIP na matatagpuan sa harapan ng The Medical City sa may Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City. sa hapon, gumawa muli ng kabanalan sa pamamagitan ng pagdalo sa pulong ng PNK, sinundo si ayah sa trabaho (kasama si bespren untongis), at tumulak sa lokal para maki-kain sa ika-11 anibersaryo ng pagkakatatag nito. tapos, umuwi na.

☼ Lunes, Mayo 19 - nakaabang lahat kami sa opisina para sa isang pangyayaring di namin lahat mapapalagpas...... tama kami. sinabon ang isang kasamahan sa trabaho pero hindi sa loob ng isang kwarto kundi pahiyaan sa harapan ng karamihan. hayyy... buhay, makulay, parang gulay. sa iba pang kwento, nagkausap kami ni bos charles nang tawagan ko sya habang nagmamaneho papuntang opisina. feels good to get connected to them again. sa susunod, yung isa ko namang "boss" ang tatawagan ko. mura lang naman ang IDD rate ng SUN Cellular. :p pagkalabas sa opisina, binaybay ko ang Shangrila (mall) upang katagpuin ang dalawa sa aking close pals at para na ring mga kapatid: sina jawee v. at kerwin. nagyaya akong makipagkita sa maikling oras na iyon habang hinihintay naman ang oras ng paglabas ng aking beh beh galing sa trabaho. masaya ang pagkikita ng barkada kahit sandali at kahit di kami kumpleto pero sa wakas ay nai-abot ko na rin ang aking new year's gift kay jawee v. hehehe... nga pala, kerwin nasaan na ang ating mga KODAKS? :P pagkasundo kay beh, syempre gutom sya kaya dumaan kami sa Tiendesitas at naghanap ng makakainan. pero talaga namang isang lugar lang ang pinupuntahan namin dun. kaya habang kumakain si ayah ay nanonood naman ako sa kanya *kase busog na ako* at nagtatanghal naman sa entablado ng food court ang prestihiyosong South Border. humanga ako nang awitin ng LIVE ang Kahit Kailan... alam nyo yun, yung parteng "hanggang sa muli...." at sasaluhin ng saxophone yung mataas na boses? ang galing, hanep!... at panghuli na dapat mai-dokumento para sa araw na ito, nagbayad ako ng aking kauna-unahang traffic violation ticket para sa taong 2008--- at kaka-bago ko lang ng lisensya ko noong nakaraang lunes. :( at least, hindi ako naglagay dun sa traffic enforcer nang hulihin ako.

☼ Martes, Mayo 20 - araw na pumanaw si ANAKPAWIS Representative Crispin Beltran. Ka Bel sa tawag ng marami, kilala siya bilang malaking impluwensya sa pagsusulong ng kapakanan ng mga manggagawang Pilipino. nang mapanood ko sa telebisyon ang maikling kwento ng buhay nya, bata pa ay ipinakikipagbaka na niya ang kanyang adhikain. naupo sa Kongreso bilang panghuli niyang tungkulin para sa bayan at pumanaw nang may dignidad, respeto hindi lamang mula sa kanyang pamilya at mahal sa buhay, maging ng mga Pilipinong naniniwala sa kanyang adhikain. sa araw ding ito ay pumanaw ang ina ng isa naming ka-opisina.

☼ Miyerkules, Mayo 21 - birthday ng asawa ni boss. syempre, libreng pananghalian ulit sa opisina. nag half-day ako upang lakarin namin ni ayah ang ilang mahahalagang bagay. pinagmaneho ko sya paikot sa bayan nila habang nakasakay si papalove na sa tingin ko naman ay naging proud sa kanyang only daughter. nagbayad ako ng bill sa telepono, nag-grocery din kami at syempre, nalungkot ako dahil dalawa sa mga bagay (o brand) na gusto kong bilhin ay wala na sa market :( pero hindi bale, pagkahatid naman sa mga magulang ni ayah sa bahay, nakakain ako ng masarap na mango-banana crepe. ummm... sarap talaga! pagkatapos, bago namin tinapos ang makabuluhang araw na iyon, nag KTV muna kami ni ayah sa Timezone. bagama't nag-enjoy kami sa KTV, nalungkot naman ako dahil hindi ko pa rin nakukuha yung major prize na gusto kong makuha sa STACKER :(

☼ Huwebes, Mayo 22 - maliban sa pakikipaglamay sa namatayan naming opismeyt, isa lang ang maibabahagi ko para sa araw na ito: natikman (at nagustuhan ko naman) ang lasa ng GOYA DARK CHOCOLATE. *NOTA* hindi ako mahilig sa dark chocolates. salamat sa nakaka-pressure na twits ng mga twitter friends, napabili rin ako ng nasabing tsokolate. mamaya, GOYA DARK MINT naman ang titikman ko. :p

nga pala, panghuli, mukhang t*nga yung buhok ko nung Miyerkules. gusto ko nang magpagupit pero di kami magtagpo nung barbero ko. kaya nung isang araw, basta ko na lang hinawi yung buhok ko at kung ano ang kinalabasan ng unang hawi ng suklay, yun na yun! ewan kung malinaw na makikita ang buhok ok pero eto yung araw na yun:



PS. mukha na pala akong tsonggong puyat :(
(salamat sa twitter dot com dahil naging madali ang pag-alaala sa mga pangyayari noong mga nakalipas na araw)

physically & mentally tired

a few hours ago, we just got back from our stormy company outing @ White Rock Beach & Resort in Subic. While White Rock can boast of being tagged as an A-1 beach resort throughout the years, i can't help but notice that their services standard have declined a bit. Basing on my first time visit to the resort and without knowing that it is regarded as a sosy place, i can easily tell that it isn't that "5-star" anymore. setting the typhoon aside, (1) front desk personnel seem to lack ability to attend (with a smile) to numerous customers. i mean numerous since i've never seen too many delegates in front of the front desk transacting businesses at the same time. then, (2) my scheduled body massage was late for half an hour which forced me to end the session halfway since i will be left by our team in going back to Manila. luge, tsk, tsk.... another thing, (3) the used plates and cups in the back foyer of our room wasn't taken out and cleaned up and until we left earlier, they were still there! then, (4) their bathroom tub is flooding. and with the rain (or typhoon), (5) water from the outside penetrates some rooms (our bosses were the victims in our group) and rainwater come out of the floor from they-don't-know-where... jaraaann!!! ceiling is dry.. must be the walls. then (6) from our rooms going to the main lobby and reception hall (and food hall), floodwater is ankle-level! you're not even on shore yet. last on my rant list about this classy beach resort, (7) electric power goes on & off for like a hundred times during our one day-one night stay. ok, that may be beyond their control but here's another last minute rant: (8) our cable TV can be compared to a FREE TV. lots of channels missing / no signal, and when you ever get to catch one, it's as blurry as the Pasig River. we didn't enjoy the TV while on bed.

some good things to account for are the following:

1. we had a good KTV session
2. we had the best activity in the pool: 2 sets of basketball (pool) games (unfortunately no cameras were able to record it due to the rain)
3. we had a good volleyball set of games and rematch
4. i had (at least) my body massaged
5. some enjoyed the beach while it was storming
6. some had enjoyed playing table tennis against each other
7. FREE FOOD!

and about the Ocean Adventure, it's a so-so experience for me since i've already witnessed how they do it in Sea World. i really do not want to compare but its a good thing to know that we in the Philippines also give our share of care to the marine world.


(one of the few stunts made by the marine creatures with thier trainors, Ocean Adventure)

and these photos show how stormy a summer outing can be:





(more photos here.)

while on vacation, i was thinking about three things: (1) the lot buyer of my sister & brother-in-laws lot property seems to be backing out. this will mean misunderstanding from them and us + the stubbornness of the agent will be bugging me for i don't-know-until-when; (2) one officemate is committing career suicide; and (3) i am affected with the news i learned this morning about the murder in RCBC-Laguna. i have expressed my take on the issue through one to two-liner posts via twitter.

finally!

AFTER one year and five months of waiting since the Metro Manila Development Authority initiated putting up a footbridge along the busy stretch of E. Rodriguez Jr. Avenue, more popularly known as Libis, and after being held for so many weeks, the very useful MMDA foot brigde situated in front of Citibank Tower in Eastwood City has become operational & usable since last Monday, May 12th:



i didn't let the opportunity pass in crossing the avenue via this foot bridge before i blog about it so yesterday i walked from our office going to a convenience store to buy myself a snack. but actually, i went there just to try walking through the newly-built foot bridge:



i recall that more than two years back, i have done my part as a citizen in calling the attention of the authorities in relation to the safety of the pedestrians crossing E. Rodriguez Jr. Avenue. I have called the MMDA office and asked to check the busy avenue and what they can do to assure the safety of the crossing pedestrians. This was done after i nearly lost my life while crossing the same avenue on an official business with our company. patience has paid off. but maybe, the authorities may want to consider putting up an additional foot bridge in front of SHOPWISE or near Jollibee-White Plains, where many people cross the busy avenue and where walking up to Eastwood City just to cross through the foot bridge there will not be very helpful. As public servants, it is but their duty to oversee the welfare of their citizens and people shouldn't really be giving out praises for these kinds of accomplishment. but anyway, showing how grateful we are for this project, a sincere thanks.

ending the day with a BIG thanks! :)

generally, this has been an a-OK day for me! people never fail to remember how near or far they may be from you, i'd like to give my warm thanks to all who greeted me on my special day, and double thanks to those who even bothered to surprise me with their thoughtful gifts. you all have brighten up my day :)

from the list i posted in this entry, i can only count three things i haven't got today. wow, thank you, thank you, thank you people...! look:

mga taong totoo

naalala ko sa klase namin noong college, itinanong ng teacher sa amin kaugnay ng subject na "Rizal" ang ganito: "Ipaliwanag ang kasabihang, 'ang tunay na kaibigan ay makikilala mo sa panahong ika'y nasa kulungan o sa araw ng iyong libing."

paki-paliwanag nga.

pagba-blog mula sa Minalin, Pampanga

Naaliw lang ako dahil nakaka-access ako ng internet sa maliit naming bayan dito sa Minalin, Pampanga. Simula't sapul pa, simple lamang ang buhay dito sa bayan namin. Bilang tinaguriang "egg basket of Luzon", pangunahing naging kabuhayan dito ang pag-aalaga ng manok. kaya naman pagpasok pa lamang ng bayan ay maaamoy na ang mahalimuyak na amoy ng fried chicken ala chicken joy buhay na manok at naging dahilan din para maging isa sa pinakamalangaw na bayan ito ng lalawigan ng Pampanga. hmm.. puro negatibo yata yun? medyo. pero kase yun ang totoo. may alaga pa nga ring baboy noon ang tita at tito ko. natatandaan ko pa, natuto kaming magpipinsan na magpakain ng baboy--- mamimitas lamang kami ng mga dahon/sanga ng ipil ipil at kung hindi man ay sasalok kami ng isang tabo ng darak. noon yun. iba na rito ngayon. sa tinagal-tagal ko nang nawala sa bayang ito, at pagkatapos lisanin ng mga orihinal na taga-Minalin ang bayang ito noong binaha ng lahar sanhi ng pagputok ng bulkang Pinatubo, marami nang nabago. isa lang ang nananatili--- ang simpleng pamumuhay. kapag pupunta ako dito para dalawin ang mga lolo at lola ko, eto lang naman ang gawain: pananghalian, pahinga, meryenda, luwas na ng Maynila. Ganun lang. Hindi ko alam kung ano pa ang pwedeng gawin sa bayan namin. sobrang payak ng pamumuhay, na kung ikaw ay katutubo dito at may ambisyon sa buhay, aalis at aalis ka papunta sa ibang bayan, lalawigan o maging sa ibang bansa. sayang kase maganda sana ang lugar. kung ako ang punong-alkalde rito, sisikapin kong maging masigla ang bayan. maganda naman kase rito, kulang lang sa pagpapaunlad.

anyway, wala naman akong masyadong punto sa blog entry na ito. sinubukan ko lang ang bilis ng Smart Bro Prepaid at mukhang ok naman.

para sa mga ina, ilaw ng tahanan... Maligayang Araw ng Mga Ina! :)

246 Never Will I Leave Your Church

1
This brief and borrowed life
Lord, to You, I dedicate
And evermore transformed by love
I vow to meet my fate.

1st Chorus
Never will I leave Your Church
Never will I turn away
And I pray for strength to serve
Until my dying day.

2
If You should test my faith
Lord, I promise to be strong
And though the worse may come to pass
I vow to carry on.

2nd Chorus
When at last, my time is done
When at last, my life is spent
Tell me I am almost home
And I will live again!

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

condolences to my cousin, Marie, for the passing of her husband, Jing.

people i miss

i'm at home. didn't report to work for the following reasons:

1. renew my drivers license (tinamad ako kaya di ko 'to nagawa, boo! edited 7:45pm)
2. attend the interment of my cousin's hubby, and
3. mass (choir) practice at Antipolo for the special worship service on Saturday.

hmm.. ayah is on her 2nd day at her new work--- the company where i used to work. i hope my rants in the same company won't discourage her to pursue a career in the telco industry. i haven't seen her in one day so later, i'll go to her place and ask for stories about her new "career" :)

i miss a good number of people, mostly my buddies: jawee, ivan, LA, ker, friend Mariel, jobilark, jheng, paul, froggy buddy... we've not been seeing each other for ten years now (exag, of course) and meeting up in one common time seems to be very difficult these days. ano ba ito? anyhoo... i just wonder if August should be the perfect time for us to reunite (August is friend mariel's birth month *teehee*) but i would want to chill with them before that date and do what we just used to do: passing up time eating, mall strolling, or even watching movies together, just for the heck of it--- togetherness and friends bonding. and oh yeah... KTV! well, those were the days.. anyway, this song's for you all... when i die i keep on living, you'll always have my love seeing you through... i'll be your angel up in heaven...



When I Die (No Mercy)
Talk:
Forever & Always
When I Die I Keep On Living For You
You Give Me Strength When I Start To Worry
You Lift Me Up When I'm Feeling Sorry
You're Building Me Up With Love & Affection
When I'm In Danger You're My Protection

And I'm The One You Can Depend Upon
I'll Always Treat You Right, Never Do You Wrong
Just Feel The Love Burning Inside Of Me
It's Gonna Last For Eternity
For Eternity

CLIMB:
For Eternity
Cause Baby I Love You
Ooh
Baby I Need You
Yes, I Do

CHORUS:
And When I Die I Keep On Living
You'll Always Have My Love Seeing You Through
I'll Be Your Angel Up In Heaven
Forever All My Love Will Shine On You
Cause Baby I Love You
Ooh
Baby I Need You
Yes, I Do

Hey

Are You That Someone You Can Believe In?
No One Can Take Away What We're Feeling
Our Love Is Strong, It Goes On Forever
No One Will Ever Love You Better

And When They Moan I'll Still Be True To You
The Seed Of Love Lives Inside Of You
I'll Be Your Angel Up In Heaven
And All My Love Will Shine Down On You
For Eternity

CLIMB:
For Eternity
Cause Baby I Love You
Ooh
Baby I Need You
Yes, I Do

CHORUS:
And When I Die I Keep On Living
You'll Always Have My Love Seeing You Through
I'll Be Your Angel Up In Heaven
Forever All My Love Will Shine On You
Cause Baby I Love You
Ooh
Baby I Need You
Yes, I Do

CHORUS:
And When I Die I Keep On Living
You'll Always Have My Love Seeing You Through - Seeing You Through
I'll Be Your Angel Up In Heaven - Up In Heaven
Forever All My Love Will Shine On You
Baby I Love You
Ooh
Baby I Need You
Yes, I Do

road trip to the sea at the end

it was rather more of a road trip than really taking a long dip at the beach. YESTERDAY, some personal and domestic obligations hindered us (ayah & i) to tread the road early going to Batangas. As a result, we were seen munching our McDonalds drive-thru (lunch) meal after passing the Petron Gas Station in SLEX. After witnessing a whole lot of concrete barriers and one car accident (green Kia Picanto), we finally reached the end of SLEX and then entered Star Tollway. Personally, i liked the highway since traffic is very, very light, well at least that day but the thing is it's scary driving through it at night since they only have lights on the exits.



after exiting Star Toll, we yet again headed to the towns & barrios of Lipa to reach barrio Hugom where La Luz Resort can be located. It could have been nice if we spent the sunset on the beach but i didn't want the idea of driving on an unfamiliar, unlit roads so we caught sunset along the way and called it a day!




on a side note... even the big jellyfishes enjoyed the water. here's one going to the shore (and oh yeah, notice how CLEAR the water is!):