Summer Fling

Some find new love. Others get left behind.

It’s amazing how many things can happen. It’s amazing how so much can end.

Like how summer fades, and as how it is here in the tropic regions, the rain would wash away all summer trace.

Back in the days, it was called a shipboard romance. It only lasted as long as the ship was at sea.

But at least summers last longer. So long as the sun still heats up the sands, the fiery atmosphere persists and extends to the loins.

So be careful with your hearts. You simply wouldn’t want to burn and be left behind.

Or maybe you’d be lucky. And find that the sun still shines even during the rains.

For all that it’s worth, and though it is fast ending, don’t forget to have fun in the summer sun.

Summy Fling

KD Lang

Early morning mid-july

Anticipation's making me high

The smell of sunday in our hair...

You ran on the beach with kennedy flair

Sweet, sweet burn

Of sun and summer wind

And you my friend

My new fun thing

My summerfling

laugh...oh how we would laugh

At anything

And so pretend

Forsake the logic

Of perfect plans...

A perfect moment

Slipped through our hands

Sweet, sweet burn

Of sun and summer wind

And you my friend

My new fun thing

My summerfling

Strange...

The wind can change so quickly

Without a word of warning

Rearrange our lives

Until they're torn in two

image from here and here

Matagal na tong naka auto-post for the end of summer (2011). Pero with friends' circumstances/ recent events baka ma-bigyan pa ito ng meaning. Wag gawan ng issue pls. Ayaw ko na tong ipa-auto post for 2013. LOL.

Vote for Aurie and Bset!!!!!

Dear friends,

Minsan lang ako humingi ng favor... I'm asking... no... telling... uhhmm... COMMANDING ya'll to vote aurie and bset in the Happy Soles will Travel To Brazil Contest by Havianas. Click on this link to see the video and vote:
http://www.havaianasphilippines.com/happysolestest/willtravel/p2_profile.php?pid=1

Or watch below:



Kindly share in your blog... THANKS!!!! THANKS!!!!

Also... click on www.imagipod.blogspot.com ... basta.

Aryt? Aryt!!!!!

P.H. (pahabol kwento): hindi po ako kasama sa Brazil kung sakali, so wag nyong isipin na may hidden agenda ako dito. Back story lang, the video was made with a theme of how to make someone happy if anything is possible. The concept given by Aurie was reliving your childhood memories. You'd find the video simple, yet it hits home. Watch the video to see.

Thanks a bunch!

Yakimix Jap overload

I grew up with only Kamayan as my only choice of buffet restaurant. Then came its triple V alliance (parang voltes V lang). Of course there’s Cabalen which I think is getting better than Kamayan. The triple V group however is losing its magic on me already. I’ve already memorized the taste of their food and they don’t anymore bring me to that gastro orgasmic frenzy like they used to. Manang’s menu over at Rufino’s jollijeep sounds more exciting even.

Then I was introduced to Yakimixx by an online friend. The mere thought of Jap on buffet already gave me heavenly tummy spasms from all the craving.

For only 550 Php (with bottomless drinks) for lunch, Yakimixx sounded like a hoax, it was simply too good to be true. I doubted its quality as a Jap restaurant and dared try it with friends just for the heck of it.

But I almost went on a happy excited crazy bawl over what I saw at yakimix. Fresh Japanese food, with a wide selection of your favourite sushi, from your usual maguro sushi, you also have your chicken and apple, spicy salmon, unagi and many others. But that’s just one buffet table. Another separate long table would have your salad bar, a Chinese-Jap viand collection (fried rice, soup, tempura, etc.), an appetizer bar and a dessert bar.

Animetric would describe one section as his “anti-umay bar” laden with your atchara, kimchi, spinach and pickled vegetables. The dessert part would feature a wide variety of pastries, cakes and ice cream.

But I guess what would keep one from coming back is Yakimix’s wide variety of meat seasoned in many different ways possible (beef pepper steak, spicy HK chicken, pork barbeque, and even some of your white meat seafood selection). This part one would enjoy as you’d have to cook them on your smokeless griller placed at the center of your table. This way, you have complete control on how you’d love your meat whether cooked easy or well done.

I just hope they could maintain the quality of their food with the same price. As I would like to keep on coming back.
For now, I’m giving them ten thumbs up! I’m definitely recommending this to my friends.

More reviews at http://animetric.blogspot.com/2009/08/eat-all-you-can-at-yakimix.html
More pictures at http://docgelo.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/smokeless-grill-sushi-and-more/
YakiMix

BC 25, Hobbies of Asia,

Diosdado Macapagal Blvd. Pasay City,

Metro Manila

387-8120

*Update: They now have their MOA branch and i think the Tomas Morato branch is opening as well.)

Ang Palaboy na Bochok at ang mas Palaboy na ako

Buti pa si bochok masaya, di na sya nalulugmok sa kwarto ko at nakakagala na ulit sya. Samantalang ako, since sa bahay nagtatrabaho, nabuburaot na sa ingay ng mga aso ko. Walang ibang mukha na nakikita kundi ang mukha ni Bono, kung mukha talaga ang matatawag mo sa “face” ng aso.

Pero un nga, me bago na naman akong ibabangga. Pero napansin ko lang, ung dating umaabot ako ng 120 sa EDSA ay nagging 40 – 60 nalang. Nangalhati ang aking bilis, natrauma ata. At nung nagpunta ako sa Batangas, hanggang 80 lang ata ang aking bilis sa SLEX, na 90 lang nung walang sasakyan sa may Star Toll way.

Pero un nga, tinatamad kasi din ako magsulat, medyo toxic din, at ngayon ay nasa Cebu nanaman tapos didiretso sa Davao sa Huebes, balikan lang din pa Maynila. Pagod lang at hindi din makapamasyal dahil me mga kelangan pang gawin sa bahay.

So yun, pasensya na kung medyo walang kwenta mga posts ko ngayon. Pagkatapos nalang ng Styembre ako magsusulat hehe.

Salamat nga pala sa mga sumama sakin sa pagpunta sa Batangas, sana eh makaulit ako. Ang weird lang kasi ang pinunta natin sa batangas ay SM din. Haha. Pero sana nagenjoy din nmn kayo.

Hiatus muna ako (nakikiuso lang).

Anyway... KNOCK KNOCK????

WHO'S THERE?

TOILET!

TOILET WHO?

Toilet: The newest vampire movie according to Many Paquiao.

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Adik lang. (no offense po sa mga Manny P. fans, fan din ako... so wag OA magreact)

Invisible

I’m taking it slow
As I’m drifting away
Before I’m letting go
And utter things I’d like to say

People are slowly forgetting
And things are becoming easy

And bset is starting to settle in
With friends whom I’ve trusted dearly
Slowly noticing things not seen
That I’m moving away clearly

No more good byes, just a smile
No more good byes, just a hug from a mile

Soon… soon…

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

On a lighter note, I would like to thank a good friend for tagging me along at Marie Digby's meet and greet. Though my phone went dead (such an unlucky bastard!) just in time when I wanted to shoot some video.
woot woot!

But I'm just sooooooo in love with her. She's just soooo HOT.

Dude Where's My Car?

Dear everyone, let's play hide and seek, or maybe peek-a-boo!!!

Game???

Dude! Where's My CAR?????

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There you go... so I apologize if I've been such a brat with my text messages, I must've been recovering still. An Yes, I tried crawling up just to get out of that freaking car. I'll never drive again, at least not alone.

In any case, I would like to thank Jordan and kuya Joms for coming all the way from Manila/ Cavite to Batangas just to see if I'm ok. You just don't know how your support helped me through the ordeal. I wanted to cry, but as always, I had to have a clear mind in dealing with the police (350 PhP), the towing co. (25,000 PhP), impounding co. (6,000Php), and the darn Star Toll way people who asked me to pay the facility damages for 10,000 Php for a few chicken wires and a couple of concrete slabs, before even asking me if I was injured or something. Freaking fudgie Bar!!!!

But just a quick pluggin' for ya'll. (Haha, pilit na segue)

One thing that kept me sane was my free gogear. I still am not finished tinkering with my device since some of my friends borrowed (and raved about) it comparing it to their Zune, Creative, and iPod. I'm actully an iPod user, but hearing about gogear, I simply fell in love (naks). For now, I'll give you a few information on three of the gogear collection.

From their very posh portable music lineup, Philips adds the Spark, LUXE, and Raga, all three available in 2 and 4 Gb.

The The Philips GoGear LUXE has an LCD display showing 1 line of text. It supports MP3 and WMA audio formats. The GoGear LUXE has Bluetooth (OMG!!!!) and can be paired with mobile phone to answer phone calls and show caller ID (WTF!!!! me likey!).

The Philips GoGear Spark features a 1.46-inch OLED 128×128 display, voice recording and JPEG image viewing (source).

Finally, the GoGear Raga is a basic music player with voice recording. The Spark and Raga both supports MP3, WMA and WAV. On the other hand, Spark and LUXE features Philips FullSound sound enhancement technology.

Super duper thanks to Philips and the organizer of the event for the freebies (They gave me my own free 4Gb Spark!!!!!). I am honestly raving about the new Philips gogear lineup (geak mode alert) with all the cool features that you can't even find in Zune, creative, or even my iPod.

Up next...

Philips Bandwidth (the cyber band contest)

Philips Gogear Review (and the ULTIMATE Full sound feature!) weeeeeee!

Stay tuned!!!!!

For now, I'll try to keep myself away till all my bruises get healed. Para gwapo padin. haha

The taciturn shindig

Imagine a party, a swimming party at that. Lots of food. A videoke machine. 25++ people in one nice homey private place with a pool.

Riot? Maybe. Noisy? Lots of Laughing? Well… sort of.

Imagine all those with mostly deaf people. Riot? Yes. Niosy? In a hand gesture kinda way. Lots of laughter? Yes, silent though. But it was fun.

Sunday, the 5th of April, the Deaf Ministry held their meeting/ outing in los banos, Laguna. It was by far the quietest outing I’ve been to.

But it was the most refreshing. Sometimes, it is in silence that we hear more.

Family duties and a day with bespren

Family duties are sometimes more urgent than being always “on call” at work. They suck at times (specially reunions). I never liked the “Kamusta trabaho,” they have this subtle way of calculating your earnings or the “Kamusta, mag aasawa ka na? (How are you, getting married?),” they usually start with a litany of how hard it is to get married and what religion we should get married having two priests for uncles, we are but a conservative bunch. But someone has to do it, face them all, and more often, that someone is me. My dad’s representative, they often say.

Though at times, family parties are like fresh air to my toxic routine at work, but as sleep has slowly become a luxury, I’d really rather sleep. Sleep. On my saliva smelling bed with my huggable sometimes sweat-soaked pillow.

But last Sunday, I had to go to a party in Batangas, a two hour drive from Manila, to act as one of the “Seven Toys.” I thought those happen only in debut parties, apparently not. I was not just tasked to give a gift, but find an explanation to it as well.

Seeing that I still lack sleep, I had to drag with me my likewise sleep deprived best bud. His task, to keep me awake during the drive.

Driving through Star Toll Way to Bauan, Batangas, with my speed dial pointing to 120, my best bud dozing off right beside me, my eyes slowly closed owing to the smooth ride and the relaxing music.

I’m not sure how long I was driving with my eyes closed but good thing, my best bud woke up and violently tapped my shoulder (more like hitting me like he was killing a fly) bidding me to wake up.

Knowing my best bud’s propensity to a dramatic panic, I just told him that the sun’s glare has hurt my eyes, and I was just resting it. He bought the reason for a short while but resorted to a litany of how we could've died a few minutes after.

Oh, well, that, I told him was why I brought him with me. To keep me (or at that time, both of us) alive *evil snicker hehe*.

Thanks bset. O diba, buhay pa tayong dalawa. Next time, he said, we’ll have to bring along one emo kid and one Baguio comedian along. Hehe Game?

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

* Beyonce singing: Remember those walls I built, well, baby, they’re tumbling down, and they didn’t even put up a fight. They didn’t even put up a fight…

Me: We’ve probably heard “Hero” ten times already.

Bespren: “Hero” what?

* Beyonce singing: You’re everything I need and more, It’s written al over your face, Baby I can feel your halo, pray it won’t fade away…

Me: You know, this song…

* Beyonce: I can feel your halo… I can feel your halo… I can feel your halo…halo, halo, halo

Bespren: Putek bset, anong Hero! HALO bset, HALO! Repeat after me, H-A-L-O.

Me: Sorry naman, puyat eh. Lol.

One Youth: Project Headshot Clinic

We are inviting every Filipino youth/barkada to join Headshot Clinic One Youth.

This advocacy is made possible by visionary photographer Niccolo Cosme and his team, with the support of Globe Telecoms.

Headshot Clinic One Youth aims to promote Oneness among Filipino Youth through their headshots.

Here are the details of the shoot:

Date: March 06, 2009 (Friday)
Venue: My Place Dorm-Hotel
22 Fabian Dela Rosa St. Loyola Heights Quezon City
(near KFC and Pancake House Katipunan)
Time: 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM

*If you are not available on this date, please still sign-up so we can send you updates for our next leg.

Here are a few things to remember for the shoot:

Only the photo shoot will be provided for free.
While the organizers looked for a venue convenient to needs of the participants, the participants will be responsible for their own attire/clothing, make-up, transportation and food.
Each event will cater to 240 students for one whole day. It is expected as a matter of policy and courtesy that participants arrive on time.
Your headshots will be taken for free. We hope that you can be patient in waiting for the release of the final photos.
Remember the advocacy of the project. For a good photograph, while guided by Niccolo during the shoot, we still encourage you to be creative in your pose, attire or gestures. Represent the youth and your messages in the best way that you can.

Please register at https://www.24ever.com.ph/headshot.php

Walk-in participants are also welcome. However, please be reminded that we encourage you to pre-register in order to reserve your slots.

Call 7181311 to 12 for more questions
Or visit the Headshot Clinic Site

The Project Headshot Clinic Team
www.headshotclinic.com

Looking for Durian in Davao?

D’ Farmers Market

Pryce Road F. Torres St. Davao City
Telefax: (+63 82) 225 4861

Looking for Durian to bring along to the airport? What if it’s not in its season?

Better look for Farmers Market. There you’ll find a wide variety of durian. You want the whole fruit? They have it. You want ‘em opened and packed? They got it all packed and airport friendly for you.

Worried about the smell? They have them frozen and placed in a plastic container (those microwaveable dish pans). Freezing the durian keeps the smell at a minimum. They’ll place it in a styro box to keep it cold and seal it with a tape to keep the odour out.

How to get there?

Tell your cab driver, you’re going to Farmers Market to buy Durian. Along Torres St., passing by the convention center, turn left to Pryce road and you’ll find Farmers almost in front of Landco.

Price range?

The D101 is the type I like. It’s sweeter and creamier than most variety. It’s priced around 120-150 a kilo (just the fruit without the tough exterior).

The native one is the strongest in smell and taste. If you’re a die hard fan of durian, you’ll probably love the bitter sweet taste of this durian variety. Its priced at around 180 per kilo.

The small styro box costs around 50 pesos. The big one, just slightly higher (60-70 pesos).

Other varieties are priced at 120-180 per kilo. The native one is the most expensive.

If you want durian Jam, it’s priced at 60 pesos per small container.

Support Philippine Tourism

Mabuhay Toileters!

Link Please!

Me: Wow! I'll start the new template of my blog...
Me in the Mirror: Good! But don't forget to...
Me: There! Clicked and saved!
Me in the Mirror: don't forget to save your widgets... *sigh*
Me: I thought I did that already?
Me in the Mirror: No, you didn't.
Me: Waaaaaaaa!!!!
Me in the Mirror: I told you so!
*me facing the mirror*
Me: you stupid reflection! You should've warned me!
Me in the Mirror: I did. or at least I tried.
Me: f%$#@!

Ok ok. Point taken. I hate all these html stuff. And they hate me as well.

So forgive me, but can you all post your links in this entry by commenting?

I just need to update my links and stuff.

Ayt??????

Thanks a bunch!

(At least now I have a three column blog. hehe, but I can't seem to get my banner pasted on top. hmmm...)

Hanoi and Tsuru restaurant, Davao

Two Different cuisines in one. Let me introduce you to one of the best jap-viet restos I found.

Name: Hanoi and Tsuru Restaurants
Where:
Main: J. Camus street, Davao City
Branch: Damosa Gateway, Lanang, Davao City
Contact details: Main: (+6382) 225 4501; Branch: (+6382) 235 0501
Cuisine: Hanoi is Vietnamese, Tsuru is Japanese
Yes, you’ve got two countries in one roof. Two different kitchens for one door. One is Vietnamese, the other Japanese. When you get past the main door, you’ll find yourself choosing between the left and the right hall. They’re not exactly mixed in one place. They still maintain the dining set up each culture would demand.

On your right, you’ve got wooden table and chairs. A sticks of wood tied together for a place mat. And your signature chopsticks for the Japanese Tsuru restaurant.

On your left, you have dark cushioned chairs. Your usual table setting with ceramic wares. An aquarium of crabs and Vietnamese costume worn staff.

Food rate: I’d say 8.5 out of 10, which is good. Though you’re seated on different sides (either Hanoi or the Tsuru side), you can still actually order from the other restaurant in your own table.
Ambiance: 7 out of 10. well, its cozy enough and they actually give justice to the culture they want to impart with their table setting. If you want a place where you can chat with friends, this is the place. Its brightly lit and not meant for a cozy date, but the food actually is enjoyable.
Service: The disadvantage of having two restaurants working together is that the other restaurant’s waiters cannot serve the ones on the other side, even if they ordered some dishes from the one on the other side of the wall. This might delay some orders.

There are days that they would have a small number of waiters, so you better know how to wait for your turn. And as most restaurants in Davao (and those down south), they close at 2pm and re-open at 5pm.
Cost: Japanese will range from 150 – 300. As well as the Vietnamese one. The prices are cheap compared to Manila. Reasonable prices for more than reasonable serving.

Some Recommendations: I would suggest you try all sorts from Jap to Viet. But I would suggest some dates to actually try them all.

Every 8th of the month, the Vietnamese side will have their buffet. This will include the crabs.

Every 15th and 30th, the Japanese one will have its turn.

On each of these dates, a variety of dishes will be served for you all to taste. So do remember these dates.

Overall Assessment: A must try restaurant in Davao.

Flat tires and Fathers

I’m back! I apologize for the lack of posts… as they say, absence means I’ve been busy, being busy means more posts. So the following posts are a series of events that transpired from last week, plus some debts that I owe some bloggers, tags that I haven’t answered etc.

(source)

I’ve been driving (without supervision) for more than a year now. But my knowledge stopped with just that… driving. Not once have I been concerned with maintenance and all that crap (though later I’d realise that I need all these things I called crap).

A couple of weeks ago, I went to St. Lukes early in the morning to get things started early. Midday, I had to return to the parking floor to get some stuff before lunch. And like those comic movies, when they would zoom in to the highlighted scene, once they come to the punch line, my vision suddenly zoomed in to my tires… 10 meters away from me (talk about superman zoom in features, talo pa ang inaasam asam kong dSLR).

I got one flat tire. Right one. The one near the driver’s.

Good thing about tubeless tires, they won’t go flat on the road, they’d have all the air out of them one you go immobile, parked.

With my usual calm state, first thing that came to my mind, like in all cases of emergency… ask dad.

Ok ok. I’ve eternally established in gargantuan proportions how much of a daddy’s boy I am. So stop the smirking and the endless condemnation already.

“Daddy, where’s that thingy that can lift the car up, I’m going to change tires,” I texted.

“The jack (oh that’s what it’s called!) is in that compartment at the back,” my dad replied.

“So where exactly shall I place it on the car?” I asked again.

“There’s that slot near the tire where you could fit the Jack in,” my dad patiently replied.

“Ok. But would the tire need a different knob? Are they the same?”

“Yes. It has a concave edge so it would fit the spare one,” my dad with all patience.

Then I looked at all my props for all these shenanigans. Then realised, the spare tire is flat as well.

“Dad, the spare is kinnnndddaaa flat too,” wishing some miracle would happen…

Then poof!

“Haaaay. Wait I’ll be there in a couple of hours.” Tadan! Miracles do happen. My dad will make an appearing act!

“Ok. Love you dad!” --- me with a big big grin.

I can almost hear his exasperated sigh. But oh well, I’m such a spoiled kid.

He went to change the tire as I watched, I mean helped. Helped, so as for me, of course, to learn the art of changing tires so that I may do it by myself once the need would arise.

But as I'd always say… I maybe spoiled, but I’m never a brat. Ayt?

Oh, did I say I love my dad so much? Hehe. I can’t imagine life without him. But yes, yes, I do have to learn how to do some stuff by myself. Learn the art of doing all sort of crap, like changing tires, taking the car sheets off the seats, checking the oil, and well... crap.

Don’t get me wrong… I may lack the knowledge on such simple tasks, but I still do know a lot. Like the pathophysiology and treatment of diabetes, the usual oncology treatments and the new treatments that are not out yet in the market, wash dishes, new porn sites… ooops… erase that last bit. Point is, I compensate on some things.

Other than that....

hehehe… I so love my dad.

Toilet's Plane adventures

My trips have always been coupled with so much memorable feat, from funny little moments to outright disasters, from series of unfortunate events to a domino of lucky moments. They've been all fun. Memorable. One time I was too early for a meeting in another countryI had to sleep at the train station. No enough money to buy food except for 40 kroner worth of small McDo burger (thats around 400 PhP). Another time coming from another country one of the turbines seemed to had a problem, good thing we landed already, but had to be towed near the actual parking, welcomed by ambulance and firemen.


Flying with me was never a dull moment for officemates. One time my colleague was so sure something will happen just because he was flying with me. All was almost perfect, when at the last x-ray they had to detain me because of a large swiss knife complete with all sorts of screw driver, a clipper, pliers, the works. Imagine how I forgot it was there and how from the Phiippine Airport, that large thing got in another country. My colleague swears that one of these days, I'll probably give him a heart attack.


Recently, I've only been flying local, Cebu mostly, with Davao here and there. No more international adventures. But I guess luck is still at my side.


I've been late a lot of times. But at one time, I had to check in at a counter with a very large man (buwaya looking), with a very big belly, and a look that says "Don't mess with me."


I gave my e-ticket to which he sternly replied, "Late ka na ha, next flight ka na." At which he started muttering all the payments I had to make.


"Sir, hindi po ba guaranteed seat kasi naka book ako? before naman konting oras nalang nakaka check in pa ako"


"45 minutes before the flight. Dapat andito ka na, kundi ibibigay namin sa mga nagaantay ng flight ung slot mo." My world just crashed. I wanted to argue that I could just be upgraded to business class since I was an elite member, but he wanted me to buy another ticket. i just idn't understand why he was being so unhelpful. he wouldn't even benefit from another ticket sale.


I was never good with arguments and confrontations. I felt bad. The ground staff was a bit rude, he was never accomodating, never listened to my own opinion and treated his own as final and unbreakable. Plus, since I was on a hurry, I had to pay 1000k to upgrade myself to business class.


With my then smug face, I dragged my broke ass towards my unwilling business class seat.


But recent events came with a different twist. I learned to wake up earlier. Dress up faster. Pack up lighter. So with another PAL flight, I went an hour earlier last monday.


My flight was 3:00pm. I was there minutes before 2:00pm. I waited till I get to the counter from the short line that i followed.


Another check in coutner reopened. I was motioned to go straight towards it.


"Sir saan po? Wag nyo sabihin Cebu." an all smile pretty staff greeted.


"Ha? Cebu nga," I said with a contorted face to emphasize my puzzled state.


"Sir, Overbooked na po tayo ngayon,"


To which I defensively replied "Hindi ako late. Ayan o, wala pang 2:00. 45 minutes diba?"


My voice was rising already. My ears felt like they were on fire.


"Sir, oo nga po. Kaya po we sincerely (yeah right) apologize and would like to make up for your lost time."


I was ushered to a small operations office with a seemingly senior staff welcoming me as if i was part of a korean travel tour. It turns out that "make up for your lost time" means that i would have to be rebooked at the next flight. It means that I have to wait another 2-3 hours. It means that I would have to eat some more pastries at the lounge.


But it also means that I get to have a Free Roundtrip Ticket anywhere around the Philippines, valid for one year. I can now hear the songs of vacation calling. I've got the ticket. I only need the date when.


hehe. sometimes, my misadventures are replaced with a much welcomed adventure.


i love life. i love me. i love the Philippines.


Mabuhay!

Me and My Glass Slippers

Once upon a time, in a land not so far away, in the castle of Nicanor Abelardo, I donned beautiful clothes. Just for that time, I pretended to be rich. Just for that moment I tried to speak intelligently. Just for a second, I stripped myself of my usual rags and slipped on my glass slippers…

Well, not exactly. They were made of leather and not of glass. I had to buy new shoes at the urging and persuasion of my friends. Plus, I bought new shoes just in case I’d have to run fast up and down the stairs and lose my shoes in between flights at which time, someone might pick it up and look for its right stinking feet.

5:00pm. We were already at the CCP area excited to watch the 8pm-showing of Cinderella. Had a quick light dinner first while looking at the different people obviously there for the same purpose.

By 7:00, we were ready to wait for us to be allowed entrance to the theatre. It was the 2nd of August. And this was how my one-night fairytale started.

The curtains opened with Cinderella wiping the floor with a rag… and a kid wailing “Mama, weewee! Mama, weewee!” twelve times I think. Then… enters my most favourite character for the night… the fairy godmother. Her delivery of lines had spunk with a touch of ghetto. She was refreshingly funny. She had attitude which gave life to most scenes.

A little later on, my curiosity about the evil step sisters and the step mother was satisfied with the entrance of two annoyingly funny characters and a baritone-voiced step mom. They were a funny bunch all through out the play and their costumes were sights to behold.

“The prince is having a ball!” I loved how they choreographed their dance and some funny antics done along the way. The geeky tall lanky girl caught my eyes. She was like a child like we all were that night, tallest as she may have been.

Though someone commented that the Prince Charming isn’t really charming at all, he did deliver well, a bit dramatic though with an accent that I can’t really pin point. Now, the King and Queen were a different matter. They were as interesting as any other lead. It was during their king-queen moments that I first heard the audience go “awwwww.” It was with them that each and everyone’s fairytale materialized… a love that surpassed age and time.

“Impossible…” It was how the song started to prelude to my most awaited scene. The Magic. How the pumpkin changed into that beautiful carriage was how I pictured it done, almost the same as that in the cartoons. The scattered lights, the outline of the carriage, and then the carriage itself… the scene simply left me in awe. I waited on how Cinderella would change into a beautiful gown. But to no avail, there were no flying gowns, no blinding lights, just a switch of characters with awkward wigs… my one and only little disappointment. Though I guess everyone had mix emotions on how the gown should look like.

Music, that one thing that gives soul to a musical play. My portkey to my little world of fantasy… my non-existent musical career (though I could swear hearing applause during bath time).

Second time I heard people go “awwww” was when one song went “Do I love you because you are beautiful, or are you beautiful because I love you…”, “Do I love you because you are perfect or are you perfect because I love you.” It just hit home. (Oh did I just murder the lyrics? I hope not.)

The songs were wonderful, and the orchestra was a very commendable team. They awakened the Disney kid in me. It felt like home. And with all the “awwwwws” I muttered, the last was when the orchestra gave its last note. And then from a kid, I was once again an adult, a very satisfied adult.

And before standing up from my chair, I checked if I lost a shoe. I didn’t. But I did gain a very memorable experience worth going over and over again. I didn’t loose a shoe for someone to fit it in my stinking feet, but I did get myself a poster (ok ok, forgive me, I was broke after this and could only afford a poster for my collection of plays, a cd would be nice though… ahem ahem). Remember…

“Impossible things are happening everyday”

Surfing Frustrations

We were supposed to go out surfing in La Union, but a friend cancelled at the last minute (Grrrr). Sadly, I'm a schedule freak, and if itenerary doesn't match the original plan, I'd get all my hopes down for an enjoyable trip. Plus I have this notion that the more the merrier. I'd like going out in a group rather than in a small company of two (unless its a date hehe).

In any case, even if I wasn't able to go (though I promised myself, that this plan will still materialise), I'd just share for now some info I got from a friend's niece. The email was really informative (in a funny way, hehe). So insert email:

Sorry ngayon lang. Toxic kasi sa work hehe. Anyways, here are details for the surfing trip:

Resort: San Juan Surf Resort (In Urbiztondo, San Juan, La Union. It's along MacArthur Highway lang, right after San Fernando)Tel # 072-7200340Contact Person: Ate Jovy (or anyone who answers the phone hehe)

Website: http://www.sanjuansurfresort.com/ although hindi to masyado updated.

There's a surf cam that shows the waves sa beach kaso naka-off yata ngayon, last update was Feb. 4 pa.*

Transportation:If may car, madali lang naman puntahan. Along MacArthur Highway lang siya, pagkatapos ng San Fernando.If walang car, pwede sumakay ng Partas Bus (there's a station in Cubao and in Pasay). Buy a ticket to Urbiztondo, San Juan, La Union and tell them to drop you off at Sebay (pronounced as Sea-Bay). Malapit na dun yung San Juan Surf Resort.*

Accommodations:Luma na rin yung room rates sa website. As of last February, eto yung rates:

Fan room (Good for 2) - PhP 650/night

Aircon room (Good for 2) - PhP 1200/night

There are also aircon rooms that are good for 3, 4, 6, etc.. I think yung for 4 is about PhP 1650/night. Pwede naman inquire sa surfcamp. Pwede rin mag-tent kung nagtitipid talaga hehehe. Kung hindi naman, meron ding "Condo Units" (5 people max.) na mga PhP 2500/night yata. Pero super ganda hehe. *

Surfing lessonsRate is PhP 400/hour. This includes board rental and surf instructor na. For newbies, okay na ang 1 or 2 or 3 hours max. of surfing per day.

Reminders:

* Bring water (although may tinda naman water sa resort) coz nakakauhaw magsurf especially when you drink a lot of sea water pag na-wipeout haha!

* For the women, make sure na you wear a rashguard or any tight top when surfing to prevent indecent exposure! :P Pwede rin one-piece bathing suit nalang para mas safe. Pag malakas kasi ang waves or pag na-wipeout, natatanggal minsan ang bikini top! Hehehe.

Walang waves usually pag summertime, or if meron baby waves lang, just right for beginners. Surfing season starts ng mga August/September until mga February.

According to a friend who went to La Union last weekend, may waves naman daw pero 2 feet lang. :P

There are also surfing spots in Baler, Zambales, Daet pero wala rin alon ngayon huhu.

Ayun, yan na muna for now. Let me know nalang pag may questions pa.

Surf's up,

Maxine :)

Mini Me

Still can't post my thoughts, still busy with work. So here's a picture (of three of us overlayed, hehe topak mag utol, la lang). From left to right: Jay jay, me, jethro. Good Night! Off to sleep!

Sign Language Blooper

There are times when I get assigned to interpret church songs into sign language. 6 songs mostly. 3 fast ones and 3 slow ones.

I got the text message the night before, for 5 songs, one song missing. I've looked into the lyrics in my data base and found that I've interpreted most songs before, so no biggie. One missing song won't be much of a big deal. I'd easily get the hang of it (the unknown song) before the 1st stanza ends.

But just for this particular church service, THE unknown song turns out to be a song in Visayan, or at least some dialect that I cannot comprehend. So, what to do, what to do... I wanted the earth to swallow me right on that very spot that I was standing. I was looking for fellow interpreters if anyone understands the dialect but it seems like everyone is at lost too.

What to do? Just stay cute. haaay. Can anyone translate this one?

Christmas in GreenHills

Greenhills is again alive with all the booths/ tiangge placed at the Greenhills parking lot. As usual they have this larger than life story board of some sorts. This year, its the story of the Nut Cracker.

I honestly like last year's theme, so Filipino. It featured how Christianity came to the Philippines, complete with Magellan, lapu lapu, the big boat, Sto. Nino... the works.

Have you shopped in Greenhills?

I Crashed my CAR!!!!

Last Monday, I was too tired... soooo sleepy, that I accidentally crashed into a Toyota Revo PUV. It stopped almost at the middle of the street, but hen again the street wasn't really big so being at the middle is relatively also being at the sides. The driver stopped slowly, and me being uberly sleepy, hit the breaks too late.

It was my first time, so I didn't know how to react. Good thing our company car personnel rescued me from making a fool out of myself. Honestly I was a hairline away form crying. Yeah, I do cry sometimes.

I'm just so thankful to that person for coming to my rescue. He assured me that its quite normal and almost all have gone through an ordeal such as mine. Good thing no one was hurt, that was most important. The damage to the car wasn't that big, though one would have a hard time opening the car hood, hehe.

Well, I do hope I get to have my car before Christmas...