Useless me. Everytime I go to the mall and make an effort to buy presents for my family and friends, I just end up buying stuff for myself. Sheesh.
Now, my list is getting more and more, and I haven't done a single thing. I end up fulfilling only my wishes.
Guys, for this Xmas, can you just be happy for me and cancel out my gift???? :)
*hugs*
*kisses*
Like a little boy, I am excited to meet 2008 and welcome it with big wide hug greeting it with huge smile!
2008, here I come!
To all of you guys, have a good year. God bless us all.
You know you love me...
Best little boy, Francis.
I was waxing nostalgic the other day missing my old friends...
I miss my highschool bestfriends and college friends plus other friends and close friends I met along the way. Though they will never get to read this, maybe not just yet.. but I will dedicate this space anyway.
Tintin is my super best friend. She now resides in Iloilo and I am missing her a lot. We used to be constant phone buddies. She's having the time of her life there and she likes the simplicity of life there. She went there nursing a broken heart, and a little less than 2 years after, she's just counting the days before she becomes a wifey. I would have wanted to be by her side as her love story developed but then she's far away... I am going to see you soon my friend.
Roxy is another best friend. I love her ability to make me smile and feel special. I admire her business skills and passion and zest for anything frou-frou. She's quite a chameleon: she used to be twice my size, then she became half my size, then twice my size and now back to half my size. I don't know how she does it (actually I do) but girl, you better behave. Rox had the hots for me before. hahahaha! and i think until now... kidding!
Cesar completes our foursome. We lost touch before but now we're trying to become close again. We have the same interests, but only I am more behaved. Hahaha! I miss hanging out with Ces. He's the only one who can really argue with me. He's the only one whom I can't seem to manipulate enough. Tough guy.
I miss my other friends too from college. I miss JJ (who gave birth already), Isay, Kareen, Val (whom I jus had lunch with at GT the other day), Jerv, Noel from my block. And of course, my JMA friends too!
I miss Maia Joven too - she's my first FGF. (maia, ask me what it is)
And then the other people I met along the way too. Sigh. There's a lot of you I am missing and it will be unfair if I write all of them and then miss out some.
No, I am not working abroad. And I am certainly not terminally ill. I'm just nostalgic.
And the reason why I miss all of them is because I have devoted sooo much time thinking about work and when I am not, I will be working. I have been cloistered too much that I lost touch.
I do not regret working. In fact, I am the one who chose this. I love this work. But If only I could have more personal time...
I miss. I just miss you.
I declared December 28th my last working day of the year! Withstanding the 10million things I have to do on January 2, I am really imposing a no-work, not even think about it for a single moment attitude. I am sooo looking forward to enjoying my last few days of really not doing anything.
Ohhh. Kahit na di ako na-approve last Friday, it's okay! It's the last working day of the year anyway.
ER and I trooped to Serendra for a little night cap. And we had a blast. It was to have walked on the cool paved streets of hi-street.
More important, we saw Allie!!!!!!!! Welcome back Girl!
I am quite a fan of carnivals, peryas and themed parks. I feel young once again everytime I go to one. But carnivals are not created equal. What interested me with Global Fun was the fact that I can see it from my messy desk everynight. Since I am seated beside the glass windows of GT, I have a magnificent view of Manila Bay, (not too fabolous view of) South Cemetery and Edsa and all the way to QC. In anycase, every night, the lit ferris wheel catches my fancy. It's so big that I can't help but compare it to Paris' The Eye. I had a preview of the site two Christmases ago. But then, by the time we got there, the park was already closing (last day, five minutes away). Aside from the fact that only Yeng Reyes and I were able to go past the guards without paying, the lines were too long. Oh well.
But since they're back this year, I had to go there and try it for myself. I nearly peed when i saw the carnival being set up. Geez.
Cut to December 24. My family went there to make the little tykes shut up. I joined them. And since the ALL ACCESS Pass was quite expensive (500 bucks), my sister and I wasted no time to ride all the attractions. The carnival gave us 2 hours to finish everything. They were closing early due to Christmas Eve celebration.
My first ride, I will call it flying fiesta. It's how it's called in EK. Flash back muna: two sundays ago, I watched Dyan C. puked in all her athletic glory. She said she got too nauseos from the ride. And I thought, what a puff ball? How can someone so fit like her be so frail in this ride. You're just going to fly around in circles??!! What's so nauseauting? Having thought of this and expecting nothing else but this, I went in in fully glory almost schmuck about this. When the thing started rotating I even blurted out "Child's play!" It was just spinning round and round until...
The swings started to move tooo fast I was literally being brushed to the sides and the seats rotating 360 on top of the whole revolution! And the worst of them all, it was moving up and down in various speeds. Fir the first time, I felt like my stomach soooo empty and so light headed. I knew I was ready to throw up. Yuck. I just kept swearing for the next 5 minutes. That ride caught me unprepared; belittling it was not the brightest thing I did.
Then the ranger ride happened. YOu will be literally suspended on mid-air in reverse glory for like 5 seconds and you anticipate what will happen next. Will it dive down face front, or slide down back first. What hurts the most was the fact that most of the other riders was seated with someone and screaming their lungs out. I was almost choking sa higpit ng cushion in my stomach and no one was beside me. Hmmph. On top of, I was kinda scared that someone might throw up and you know the law of gravity...
The other rides was so-so. But the most challenging was guarding my three little tykes. Di sila natakot at all while we were at the highest point of the wheel. And Im talking about a 5, 6 and 8 year old kids. They kept moving around, making harot and really making the capsule move. I wasn't scared of the ride. I got more scared with the responsibility of having to look after them.
The perya games were too difficult! The food sucked. The ground was made with stones. It's so hard to walk on them. And it was too humid.
I guess I'm just dizzy. My only source of happiness are my cute photos. I am posting them separately later on.
Are you familiar with this line? "I know you love me... xoxo" No, it's not another line from Ate Luds (or a follow up to her popular "Kilala mo ba ako?" - in a very raspy voice). It's a line from CW's Gossip Girl.
Gossip Girl is nothing earth-shattering. In fact, the story's quite gasgas already. But I am such a fan of catfights. Gossip Girl is a story about two best friends and their entangled love lives and society brouhahas. And all these are documented by a know-it-all blogger called (what else, but the title role) Gossip Girl. She's the society chronicler of anything dirty and scandalous. She's not necessarily the eye-witness, she's just the messenger to the world. I think here lies the charm, gossiping is such a favorite pasttime. But rumor-mongering and judging the lives of celebrities and pseudo-icons, it's fantastic! You see, if you're someone who loves to ready lifestyle and society pages more than the headline section, then you will love this series.
Gossip Girl features the lives of Blaire Waldorf and Serena Van Der Woodsen. And Gossip Girl is very busy spreading the news: the return of S from a mysterious hiaitus to a boarding school off-manhattan. The return enrages B. She's quite confused with the return of her best friend especially since she's ruled her class in her absence. She's become the Queen Bee no less. But with her return, not only is her stature in limbo, but a lot of other things unravel too: discoveries about her boyfriend Nate's relationship with S, discoveries about her father and her constant disinterest with S.
Cruel Intentions / Dangerous Liaisons and this show have very similar plot. It's about high society schemes and how manipulative they can get. And this is where catfights come to play. They try to steal each other's thunder by playing dirty. While in the end they become BFFs again, the road to recovery is really interesting.
Maybe, just maybe (and I will never admit it), the thing that I loved too about this is that they live such grand lives. While they are school-aged children, all they do is party, drink, make out and have more parties. I've never seen social calendar this busy. Then again, if my surname was Waldorf, or Ayala or Ty, I would do the same too. Oh wait... I'm not admitting that for the risk of being called shallow. Hehehe.
Point being, the lives of the rich and famous are ever so entangled because they're desperate. They try their best to keep themselves interesting and everything just revolves around it. It's quite highschool, if you think about it. Of course, those people living in Manhattan and the landed rich, they never really care about anything else, all they care for is to keep the family jewels and then get some more.
I finished the DVD in 2 days (that's something for me especially since my attention span is only comparable to a fly's). On top of this, I switched in between episodes of the whole season 2 of Heroes.
Like I said, I broke family tradition this year. Instead of trooping to a movie house to watch an MMFF film, I instead fixed myself a very comfy spot at the sala and without taking a bath, nor standing up, unless uber necessary, I became a couch potato. The only thing missing? Flies.
It's all good. I get to rest (a much deserved one) and recreate! Nice!
I'd love to be Chuck Bass. Watch Gossip Girl now. Start Gossiping.
C'mon! Don't be self-righteous. I know you'd love this too. Admit it.
Wait, I think it would be lovely to....
I've allergies on my neck now. It came from something I shouldn't have eaten in the first place, but did. Now it's haunting me. Everyone thinks it's a hicky. I will not comment any further. Lot and Myrrh know the real story. Ask me if you want to know too.
Anyway, last night, I kissed a couple of girls in the party. And then I got kissed too. It was a pleasant surprise. I love it. And until now I cherish it. As to who it was, that's a secret.
McCann had its Christmas Party last night at Warehouse. It was very, very fun, especially the mini-programs they organized. Since McCann has a lot of new hires, it only meant more production numbers. I would love to give my comments but let's save that for another entry.
For this entry, I am just going to reflect on what / how I felt last night. Since the theme was VHMA or Video Music Awards, we had to come in as like we're attending the awards night, either as celebs or as fans (i guess since some people didn't bother dressing up!). Anyhoo, it was fun and all. I wanted to come in as a member of the FALL OUT BOYS and then changed it to RIHANNA but then I am too white for her. So I went back to FOB. Then someone called. I was going to be part of this presentation daw. Heavens. First time ko sumali sa isang program. Kakatuwa naman but of course, nakakatakot yun.
Mas natakot ako when they said we're coming in as Madonnas. Like the VMAs in 2000 where various drag queens appeared as Madonna through the decades, we were going to do one like that. I couldn't think of a song, but in the end, I-van gave me Take A Bow. Hmm, I thought it was kind of decent. Cut to the video that Adel sent. Shucks. Mahirap. May emote emote pa si Madge dun.
I was in denial for like a long time until when finally when Peter was calling for rehearsals na. It was then I realized this is serriiious. Peter had his gown made. I-van din. JC din... Then Dennilu nags me for not preparing at all! Well, sa totoo naman, I have never crossed dress in my life nor put make up on. That was new to me. At siyempre, wala rin akong high heels or anything like that. So parang lost boy talaga ako.
Being the el cheapo that I am, I called a reliable stylist and asked for her help. I gave her the video she needs to copy. And she did naman. The whole look, mood and tone looks right naman but siyempre magkakatalo yan pag nagsuot nako.
I came to the venue late since I had to work pa. By the time I got there, most of them are already prepped up. When I was changing, I realized how difficult and tense this whole thing was. But I know it's just for fun. But I guess my only beef is that I've always been conscious when I am with people then biglang ganito. Oh well. One night only.
So while changing, I couldn't help laughing because rather than looking like Madonna, I ended up looking like a Principal from a HS in Binondo, well perhaps a sluttier version of that. And when I wore the shoes, akala ko duduguin na ang mga ingrown ko. It was hard enough to stand still and to muster the pain (ang lapad kasi ng paa ko eh), but to walk around was harder. Para akong maton na bading. Ang pangit.
Then when I was ready to go out na, Lisa gasped and noticed that aside from the fact I look matronly, I actually had zero transformation. I didn't have make up on, no hairstyle, and my goatee was still there. Lisa called for an emergency action with the capable hands of JC. In 15 minutes, I was coiffed to look like the matronang tita of francis chua, na titser DIN sa Binondo. oh well.
I had no idea whatsoever what my make up was like. when I looked at myself, i realized na i look kinda stupid. What with the blue highlights and big face. Para akong arinolang may toilet duck! pero ang galing ni JC to have put it together. The drama is really there. Galing galing ni JC!
During rehearsals, I was supposed to emote like I lost someone; that I was crying and trying to look for comfort, as like the video. But when i acted it out, everyone guffawed! Sabi nga ni Lisa, para akong si Mao Tze Tung. Ang tigas ng galaw and all.
But last night, after 5 stolis with royal, I think I gave a good performance.
To top it all, muntik nako matalisod while emoting. Manipis yung takong kasi. Eh Im just wearing my undies underneath so medyo flashing ito (pero mas matindi ang flashing ni Gem). I intentionally pulled my skirt up since maganda naman hita ko: Smooth, sexy and nicely-shaped (nyahahahaha!). So every time i sit down, hello fresh air! Mas masarap pala mag-skirt kesa mag shorts. It's like you're on commando!
Anyway, the night finished and several photos after, I realized that this whole drag thing is really not for me. I'd never have the guts to walk around outside wearing that. More important, I don't think I can stand on elevated heels for more than 10minutes.
(here's a trivia: that pair of shoes I wore was the exact pair beatiful model Isabel Roces wore during a shoot. Yes, she's also a size 10! Could you believe that!?)
The party was super fun, but really, I think it will really take a huge lot from me to be wearing drag again. Oh well. One night only, as the dream girls said.
I got this sms last Sunday that cracked me up. I found the text quite witty actually. Read on:
Ngayong malapit na ang Pasko,
Dalangin ko kay SAN MIGUEL na isakay ka sa RED HORSE patungo sa WHITE CASTLE, doon sa BARCELONA, para makilala ang GENEROSO at mabait na EMPERADOR na si ALFONSO at manood ng mga MATADOR habang umiinom ng FUNDADOR.
To those who think otherwise, pagbigyan niyo na ako. I am come on, can you do something like this?
I've been shopping the last few days a lot. It's not even because the bonus this year was big. It's only because I've been feeling terrible from all these stresses I've been having. I guess sa sobrang asim ko the past few days, I've channeled them all to therapy, retail therapy that is.
Imagine, I bought all these stuff in like two weeks!
Viktor Jeans: though i am so excited to wear them. I got an all white pair with white leather straps and yellow stitches on the side. oooohhh..best of all, slim fit.
Puma gold shoes: it's a steal. I've been getting raves for this. Soooo worth it.
Brown Suede Puma Shoes: Nice. Nice. Nice.
Topman Jacket x 1
tyler polos x 2
Zara polos x 2
CK Underwear x 2
And some other small stuff. Well, to other people this isn;t a big deal, but for me it is. I think (or want to think) all my hard earned money is going to all these pieces.
Now I have to work harder to be able to pay for them. hehehe.
It's been a very busy December for me despite the fact that we're just a week away from Christmas. And I thought that this was going to be my much needed respite from whole year's labor but no, projects still kept coming. I guess the saddest part was that I expected to have a vacation. Oh well. But now I'm back and I can afford to write a few entries here. I guess I shouldn't complain. I just want to take this chance and look at things differently. This is perhaps that time where I can prove to myself that I can do other things aside from activation and retail stuff.
The last TV campaign I did was a year ago. It was for the Philippine Daily Inquirer. This was produced alongside the launch of Buhay Coke and Coke Light Have it All. While the Coke TV spots were all canned, the other ground work was all localized. And having to do it by yourself (alongside with your boss), and a control freak client service director, things would really get messy.
I have no regrets working on that alone as I can say I matured pretty quickly from that. I learned to be resourceful, to smile under pressure and to be very thorough. I learned how to take control of my time and to use it to my advantage. I guess those are the upside. But the downside is, I'd go home late at night feeling really empty and tired. I felt empty emotionally as all I can see is just work (and clients) and not being able to go out and have a little break. That really drained me to bits.
But this time it's different. It's the holidays, for crying out loud. Can't one even afford to feel what this season is all about, thank Jesus and have a chat with the family? I guess not. We have deadlines for the 24th and the 26th. Requirements just keep coming. And clients sometimes forget that we manage people here, and not vending machines. And that we actually need to pluck this people out of their houses when we have to ask them to come to work.
I guess some people can be really simplistic about these things. They're paid anyway, they'd say. Worse, they have this very sickening thinking, "others would die to get this". That's no way to treat a person, a partner, a confidante.
My three years on this account has been getting quite predictable. Dec 2004, I was the only AE left working on the floor during the long Christmas Break. Dec 2005, me again. Dec 2006, me with a handful of other AEs. Dec 2007, it will be me, Ria, Myrrh, Lot and Shali and Emma. Oh well. At least mas marami na kami this time.
I am not really complaining or anything. I just feel a little bit Grinchy and Scroogey about this whole thing. Other people expect us to bend over backwards and tell us what to do and what not to do because they have already planned their lives ahead. In this case, we can't even say no. After all, I am paid to do this.
Merry Christmas Office.
What can I say? I am really corny. I am bakya. I am jologs.
:)
I will not name here because I believe in protecting people's credibility. But I just really want to share this funny experience with her while it's still fresh in my head.
HY is the head of this pseudo-powerful group in this quite powerful network. I have known her name from way back since she is kinda showbiz anyway. Little did I know that my impression about her was true. She is indeed kukubel.
We started talking at 5:15, and when we finished it was about 7. For almost two hours, she had nothing but praise release. Praise release as to how her ward is like the country's most popular, the sexiest, talented, fairest and most educated out of showbizlandia. To her mind, Claudine and Juday don't exist; only the "brightest" of her ward exists.
Well, she's the group big manager anyway. That's expected. But what I can't stomach is how she started throwing her moldy-oldy ideas like they were Cannes contenders. And how she pointed out that SHE SHOULD BE WORKING FOR AN AGENCY. Well, for a motor-mouth like her, she could certainly be in Accounts. But her ideas are all moldy.
What more, when she started dishing out her mumbo-jumbo about her latest "discoveries", she was almost orgasmic how this "miss real estate" was like God's gift to mankind. I asked myself (i tuned out since 5 minutes into the meeting), why is there even a contest for miss real estate? What's it for? Ang babaeng amoy lupa, kasing lapad ng condominium unit, or has the potential to sell the most? Or was it a dummy search for rich DOMs to donate their real estate to?
Anyway, she went on and on talking about the (yawn!) things she did for her group. She even, at one point, told me how to do my job! And whenever I tried to bring it back to topic, she would find a way to get back to her story and the role her new "discoveries" are going to help.
Finally, she was near tipping point. She was already arguing with herself (like GOLLUM) as to whether this girl is her talent or not...
It ended with her giving out this very blonde and ditzy comment about her ideas. It's sooooo cute! (I DON'T NEED CUTE. I NEED SALES!) I love it so much (OPERATIVE I. ONLY YOU LIKED IT; I DIDN'T) . I'm so sure you liked it too. (NO, NOT REALLY) Really, I think it's going to be cute if we do this!!!! (AGAIN, I DON'T NEED CUTE. I'M NOT REPRESENTING SANRIO HERE.) TOGETHER!!! (NOT IN THIS LIFETIME)
My response: Let's see.
I'm not even a fan or an avid watcher of that network!
Most of the time, I take the FX going to work. Aside from the fact that it's very convenient and cheap, I feel quite safe riding it (compared to riding the train, bus or jeep). But this morning's trip was rather unusual. It was a mixture of feelings.
Since I left home quite late, I thought I should go take a cab to work. But then the Chinese side of me said I should go take the FX instead. And so I made para this jeep and went in. There's this lola inside who kept smiling at me. And as soon as I sat down, she immediately looked for her coin purse and started counting coins. I initially thought, "wow, this old lady was very happy to see me, but why? Is she our family friend??" And when I saw her taking her coin purse out, I then thought maybe she's going to give me ang-pao (hey, it's never too early for Christmas!) but why here? Hehehe.
No, seriously, I know she was glad to see me because now she has smeone who she can make utos to hand her fare. Nice one. But then when I gave her fare (P7.00) to the driver, the driver asked where...
(loud ugly music playing)
Lola: sa Tayuman...
Driver: huh?
Lola: Sa Tayuman...! (irate with the loud music)
Driver: Eh, kulang po ito. tumaas na po ang pamasahe. P9.00 na. P7.50 na ho ang pamasahe.
Lola: Ay, senior po ako.
Driver: Eh dapat po, P8.00 hindi P7.00; kulang pa din.
Lola: Ang mahal naman..
Then enters this girl with fake swarovski crystals and belt bag. She immediately asks, knowingly, "ano ba ang problema, senior sya ah!"
Epal Girl (to the driver): Magkano ba hanggang Tayuman (why is everyone going to Tayuman?! Visiting Tita Minerva sa Singalong, Ricky, Joey, Amy and Tikboy??)
Driver: P9.00 po.
Epal Girl: Ang mahal naman! Dati, P8.00 lang ang binabayad ko ah. Ang mahal. (she mutters incessantly.)
Driver: (Sounding very annoyed already) Eh tumaas na nga ang pamasahe eh. Tumaas na ang pamasahe! Kaya P9.00 na.
Epal Girl: Eh hindi ba pwede tawad? P8.00 nalang. Senior naman siya (point to lola) eh.
After much discussion with the driver, the already-annoyed driver just said yes (hoping to end the long discussion). This know-it-all paid P8.00 TOO for herself and her kasama.
But she proceeded to babble along to the lola in Chinese discussing that one should never giving up when it comes to haggling otherwise they will really BE CHEATED. And that she should assert more next time.
*************
Here are my random thoughts about it.
1. My initial thoughts about the lola have all been erased with the entry of miss know-it-all. She literally made pakialam everything! And since when did we start haggling for jeepney fares? Though I know that jeepney drivers are not the most honest and decent drivers around, but heck, they drive for a living. And with gasoline prices skyrocketting every month, I think a peso spared is still a big loss. Now, again, back to the point, and since when did we start haggling for fare prices? It was an indiscreet act of disrespect.
2. The fact that those passengers could afford to pay a peso more, what stingy people they are! C'mon. They're not pulubis off the street that they cannot afford to pay a peso more. This girl with the fake swarovski jewelry was loaded. She was wearing a knock-off Lacoste top, knock-off Lacoste bag, some fru-fru pair of jeans and ipanema sandals plus carrying a knock-off Lacoste purse (what's with Lacoste and it being faked?), I know she could afford to pay P2.00 more. She has a hired help for crying out loud. Let's say she's underpaying him, but the fact that you are able to shell out at least P1,500.00 more each month, what's P2.00???
3. They are Chinese. Call me conservative but I never argue with anyone (unless I am right) on the street, especially if it's about money. You lose it, you gain it back later on. My world's not going to end because I was shortchanged. But what bothers me is that they were Chinese arguing about petty amounts, and trying to make barat and lamang to worker. C'mon! I think that's really wrong. I won't stand for them.
When I got down the jeep, I gave miss know-it-all a doubtful look. I just wanted to tell her that though she's old and perhaps cunning, she should be fair. It's not even because she wants to get even, or something, but she has to follow rules and be discreet with her ways.
***********************
Cut to FX ride. I was just too relieved to see that the FX was still there. Then we waited for like 20 more minutes until the FX got quite filled. On the 21st minute (time brought to me by Speedo), the ninth passenger sat. Hmmm, one more passenger then we're off to Makati. Ten more minutes passed but the tenth passenger hasn't arrived yet. I was getting impatient. Late na nga ako umalis, late pa yung FX, anong oras pa kaya ako makakapasok nyan?
So I checked my pocket if I had 35.00 pesos more. When I got out of the house, I know I only had the exact amount since I haven't withdrawn money yet. But thank God, I kept extra money in my wallet (actually, I took it from mom's change this morning, hehehe). So I paid for the tenth person's fare so we can all go.
Then this guy tapped my knee cap and said thanks. I didn't hear him, though I know he said something (i had my earphones on). I removed my other earphone and he said thanks again. I gave him a strange look, and he said, "para sa bayad. buti nakaalis na tayo." And I just smiled and nodded my head.
That guy was sweet. Now time to get back to The Company singing Now That I Have You.
****************
Blah.
The seniors really freaked me out this morning. I have always been biased about lolas. I think they're cunning and opportunistic. They use their "seniority" as an excuse to "get ahead" and get something done.
That's just my opinion.
I am a huge fan of The Company. I love listening to their songs not just because they're sung well but also because I can relate to their songs.
I was very happy to catch them perform again on stage singing a medley of their popular songs. I feel I am ready to love again everytime I listen to NOW THAT I HAVE YOU. Here's the lyrics to the song
All my life it seemed
That something had been missing
I didn't know what to do
Days would pass me by
Each as lonely as the other
Until I met you
You opened the door
And let the sunshine in
My life will never be the same again
[Chorus:]
Now that I have you
Everything just seems so right
Now that I have you I'm alive
You are the song that I'll be
Singing my whole life through
I'm living in a brighter world
Now that I have you
Looking ahead I see
The two of us together
I'll never let you go
You're so dear to me
And it isn't any wonder
Why I love you so
You opened the door
And let the sunshine in
My life will never be the same again
[Chorus:]
Now that I have you
Everything just seems so right
Now that I have you I'm alive
You are the song that I'll be
Singing my whole life through
I'm living in a brighter world
Now that I have ...you
[Bridge:]
I feel this love is real
I see it in your eyes
You take my hand and I understand
You are mine
You are mine
[Chorus:]
Now that I have you
Everything just seems so right
Now that I have you I'm alive
You are the song that I'll be
Singing my whole life through
I'm living in a brighter world
Now that I have
(Now that I have you everything just seems so right)
I'm living in a brighter world
Now that I have you
Now only if I....
Hahaha
Growing up, we're always told to be certain about matters. I was told several times that I could get wishy-washy when I don't focus on things. And that if I continue to be like this, I will probably end up in the dump (or something like that). After being told a million times or so, I finally understood the importance of being earnest.
In many aspects of my life, I TRY to be very certain and focused. I always start by identifying my intentions and my objectives for doing something. As an AE, too, I've developed this fear of the unplanned and uncontrolled. I want everything to be done as I planned it to be.
Knowing what you want probably is one of the best reasons to stay on Earth and accomplish what God has set for you. Thus, the purpose-driven life.
But what I realized lately is that this virtue can't be applied in all aspects of my life. There are things in my own life that I should just leave blurry and spontaneous. Love is one of them.
For many months now, I have been single. Though I don't hate being single, it's just that it's becoming like a wild-goose chase for me. I know who I like. In my mind, my dream partner is pretty clear, pretty mapped out. And that sets me up for failure.
You see, there's no such thing as an ideal person. Even I am not ideal. What makes me think that there are other people out there who's also ideal? But you don't doubt that that someone could exist. I believe in outerspace and the existence of God. I believe that air nourishes us and gives us life. And those things I have yet to see. That ideal person could exist too.
Being the eternally optimistic person that I am, I don't doubt. I just wait. And wait. And wait...
Waiting is Over
But last November, I discovered that that person exists. And it brightens up my day to know that I could get this chance to become close to this person. Though this person has strings attached to him, I didn't fear. Like a true blue AE, no war, no storm, no deadline will ever faze me. I will get what needs to be retrieved come hell or high water. And I did.
I didn't waste time to get to know the person. I used three important armors that I possess.
Wit: I engaged the person with stories I wouldn't even dare talk about. I asked. I answered back. I gave witty repartees. And questioned. At that time, I thought I was the most attractive person in the floor.
Charm: I smiled. I smiled. I smiled and flashed my pearly whites like it's all that matters. I know I'm quite cute when I smile. Well, at least my jaw won't look as big when I am not smiling.
Confidence: I just confidently asked for this person's number, not minding the people around me. I just did. I normally wouldn't do it, but I know I just had to do it. I thought to myself, "What have I got to lose anyway? Mine is everything to gain."
Quite obviously I know my ideal person has come. And that made me smile despite sleepless and drunken nights.
Knowing what you want is more scary
I thought everything could just go up from there. But the more I think about it, the more I realize how wrong it was. It was like pushing a sqare peg in a hole. It can be done, but you'll have to lose some sides. And the more I push it, the more hurt I get.
Being focused tells me that despite the circumstances, I should push on and assert myself. There were clear entrances in the situation, but no matter how clear they were, they were too farce. Little did I realize that the more I pushed, the more I'd get myself hurt.
And true enough, at one point, I had to realize that it's not working. I'm just beginning to feel a little pathetic, already. Not good for someone who maintained his composure in these things for a long time now.
You see, I just went for something I've always wanted and flopped. This entry is actually in connection to the blog "More Headaches than Fun". I realized that knowing what I want is more scary. Because in my mind I am certain as to what I want and that despite anything or any stumbling block, I will try my best to get it.
I lost track of the people around me. I ignored that there are other things that matter too. I was too focused on my goal that I lost track of my environment. Not good.
Sometimes, I really hate it when I become too certain. My tendency is to get too myopic and just concentrate.
Related to this, I have taken in a personal mantra 5 years ago that I will get what I want. I pride myself for being able to do this. I told myself, I want to work in advertising (despite my background) and I did. I told myself I'd work on a big account soon (and I did). That I'll become an Account Director at age 26 (and I did). There are other things that I was certain of that happened.
I likened those things with love. It didn't matter that the end goal was also another person, who'd have a rational mind and pre-existing conditions. What a stupid thing to gun for.
My love life is probably one of the more colorful things I can write about. I've loved once and lost it. I've been broken many times, too. It's a good source of depression, and optimism. It's tumult.
In the end, I only realize one thing: I shouldn't be afraid to love because it's a wonderful feeling to experience. But I should know my boundaries. I should know when to let go and when to take charge.
Knowing what I want is not bad. What's wrong with it is how you work way around it. I think I should just keep a steadfast love and everything else will follow.
This entry is only for my friends and for my contact list. Please do not share to those who are not supposed to receive it.
You've probably heard it a million times already that Ad Congress was super fun. Sure! Of course! Five days of rocking and rolling, sleepless nights and overdose of beers and vodkas. Sounds fun, right? Uhmmm, maybe to a certain point, but when you have too much of a good thing, it turns to one major headache.
For this entry, I am not really going to talk about the physical headaches that I went through. That's quite obvious already given that I've gone hoarse and eyebags-ladenfor the past week. I am going to share the other headaches I went through.
Most of it, as always, was self-inflicted. I walked right into headache, met it at its face and gave it a big big bite.
Sigh. That's soooo me.
I will share what this headache is all about in time.
This song is Kelly Clarkson's album. This song reflects what I am feeling right now. Sometimes, indeed, the one thing that's missing in love is the heart...
"Where Is Your Heart?"
I don't believe
In the smile that you leave
When you walk away
And say goodbye
Well I don't expect
The world to move underneath me
But for God's sake
Could you try?
I know that you're true to me
You're always there
You say you care
I know that you want to be mine
Where is your heart?
'Cause I don't really feel you
Where is your heart?
What I really want is to believe you
Is it so hard
To give me what I need?
I want your heart to bleed
That's all I'm asking for
Oh, where is your heart?
I don't understand
Your love is so cold
It's always me that's reaching out
For your hand
And I've always dreamed
That love would be effortless
Like a petal fallin' to the ground
A dreamer followin' his dream
Where is your heart?
'Cause I don't really feel you
Where is your heart?
What I really want is to believe you
Is it so hard
To give me what I need?
I want your heart to bleed
And that's all I'm asking for
Oh, where is your heart?
It seems so much is left unsaid
So much is left unsaid
But you can say anything
Oh, anytime you need
Baby, it's just you and me
Oh yeah
I know that you're true to me
You're always there
You say you care
I know that you want to be mine
Where is your heart?
'Cause I don't really feel you
Where is your heart?
What I really want is to believe you
Is it so hard
To give me what I need?
I want your heart to bleed
That's all I'm asking for
Oh yeah
Where is your heart?
'Cause I don't really feel you
Where is your heart?
What I really want is to believe you
Is it so hard
To give me what I need?
I want your heart to bleed
And that's all I'm asking for
Where is your heart?
Where is your heart?
Where is your heart?
Where is your heart
He called me his OLDER brother last Friday night at Embassy. I am shorter than him. I am younger than him. But maybe because I looked too haggard and tired already, I looked ten years older.
C'mon! I went to two shoots that day. And both are happening all at the same time. On top of the other stresses. Yeah, maybe I looked older.
Darn.
I know I shouldn't be asking this question as an advertising practitioner. Otherwise I risk losing credibility in giving comments to creative work and selling them to clients. But I have this nagging question in my head: Do people really care what we put out there?
Okay. I am asking this in the context of merchandising materials and billboards. There are millions of merchandising materials out there, trying to compete for attention and eventually share of pocket. But do consumers really care?
The past few months I've been working my ass off, losing hair and decent sleep trying to crack new materials. We've had several routes, which are really good ones, by the way. Everyone loved it already from the get go. Until new directions were given and more and more.... until the materials are beyond recognition. Bottomline, clients approved it, liked it, loved it, and feel strongly about it. So strongly that the finished products looks very different from the initial compre. Now, waitaminutesomethingstrangeishappeninghere. Call the Ghost Busters!
Then came d-day. It was presented to the very hands-on prexy. He vetoed everything. Because it doesn't suit his personal taste.
I beg this question now: Why on earth would comments given by a foreigner about aesthetics matter? He is not even from here. And that the only Filipino words he knows is maraming, salamat and po. Worse yet, how can he judge a material for teens when he isn't. Shouldn't this prexy be judging on the basis of strategic intent and business objectives rather than execution??? Isn't execution or meddling on it, best done by this prexy's frontliners?
In anycase, I was stunned one time when the client told me this story: She was asked her mommy what she does, and she curtly answered, "we make merchandising materials like such (pointing to a store)." Mom gamely answers back, "Huh, yan? Yan ang ginagawa mo and pinag-oOT mo? Pinag-iisipan pa ba yan?!?" She was just as startled as the mom was.
Sabagay, this isn't the first time I have been asked that. But really, do people care about what's out there? All this long hours and mental masturbation, do people really care about it? Or is price and necessity the only things that keep them going?
This deserves a whole debate. But I get one thing out of this, to many those artworks out there are just drawn up pieces. For us, these are results of intensive internal bureaucracy and ass-kissing. Oh, and it of course, is a science and an art too, nonetheless.
Hehehe.
The Philippines, they say, celebrates the longest Christmas. As early as October you could already here carols and Christmas songs playing and being sung. No problem with that. For a festive country like ours, I sure would be surprised if we celebrate it short and sweet. Heck, birthdays even sometimes last a month-long. That's how we love to celebrate...
My Christmas celebration begins as early as August. Yes, August. Right after my birthday.
This industry relishes that. And being here for more than 5 years now, I realized earlier on that Christmas will never equal to holiday but OT. But I am not complaining. I should be grateful that there's work and work has to be done. Better than a starved Christmas, yes? Christmas planning for most brands begin strategizing as early as August. And with one end in mind: owning Christmas.
The big question is: Since every one wants to become the owner of the Christmas Spirit, can one single brand really own it? What is owning Christmas all about? Who is the real star of the Noche Buena Feast? Or the official usher of the Yule?
For me, owning Christmas is a tall order. It's like getting the new Spice Girls Concert tickets. It's such a hard, daunting task. You need to crack the insight, and package the communication in punchy ways. It has to be memorable and relevant. There's so much in the checklist that when you get to the bottom of it, it's just sooo muddled up already.
I remember last year. I was in Palawan for a quick 4-day vacation. I was efficiently working and relaxing at the same time. I went around on a trike tour (of Puerto Princesa) while on the phone talking to clients. While I was appreciating the scenery and lush greens, I was also taking mental notes of the revisions being made. While cruising the beautiful waters of Honda Bay, I was on the phone, too. And when I am back to the hotel, I spend opening and closing hours at the business center. Well, those were three different big Christmas projects being done all at the same time.
That's last year. I said I will never look at Christmas the same way again.
But this year, it's different. I officially was ushered to Christmas during the Christmas Caravan Press Launch of Coca-Cola that coincided with the Annual Christmas tree lighting at the Araneta Center. It was fun. Since the whole event is a rip off of the Rockefeller Christmas tree lighting, it felt like New York. New York, Cubao.
A handful of celebs were there to celebrate with us. Sayang i'm not much of a camwhore that day. But I did get photos of what I want. Not bad.
Oh well.
For the first time, I am not harassed this season doing and rushing Christmas campaigns. It's with another AE here in the team.
Downside is, I am handling another toxic campaign that has nothing to do with Christmas. It's meant for 2008. Yes, doing things now for0 '08.
Like they say in Boracay, "Sir, masachi?" (lady gestures with her two hands kneading)
I've always been mistaken as a Korean, whether in Boracay or here in Manila. Funny, I never corrected them. I just nod and say "no".
I used to go to this spa where Koreans frequent. Surprisingly, they still mistake me as one. Looking at their features, I don't think I look like one naman.
But there are a couple of good looking Koreans. In fact, I've been dreaming of going to Je Ju Island in SoKor too. And maybe a side trip to Lotte World. And who knows, rub elbows with Korean stars and of course Wang Lee-Hom.
But for now, I'll stop dreaming and get my masachi from my favorite spa.
Bye-bye!
And they say, "When it rains, it pours...".
Well, I am not referring to the bad weather condition today, but to the overall condition of my day today.
3 weeks ago, I booked myself for a trip to Palawan. Unfortunately, due to heavy and unexpected work load, I don't think I will be able to go anymore. Well, no more na talaga. I am supposed to take the AM flight to Puerto Princesa tomorrow, but look who's still here and has a shoot tomorrow?
I didn't expect much load this week. But it just kept coming in, one after the other. To top it all, 2 of my AEs are on leave today. Guess what? Who's supposed to take that on? Me and Gen, who else? But I am not blaming them ha, just to be clear... they're on leave for legitimate reasons.
Oh well, maybe there's still a next time. What's funny is when the hotel called me this morning to confirm my arrival, I said in a very energetic voice, "Oh, sorry. I'm very sick now and don't think I can fly there. Can I just re-book it?"
What a bad liar.
Maybe it's me but I really don't see why drugs is supposed to be cool and mature? Is it really? And what's so cool about it?
I know some people would react and raise their brows against me. I'm just asking a question.
The other night, I went to watch 30 Days of Night with my sibs. I thought this was a nice movie. I liked 28 days and 28 days later. I liked the Blade series. I liked Interview with the Vampire, Underworld and other vampire movies, campy or not.
But this one just tops my list... as the worst. Like I said in the title, I will not review this movie. So instead, I will just skew this entry to post a question.
Barrows, Alaska happens to be the farthest town on Earth. It's 80 miles away from Anchorage (I think) and there're no roads or highways to get around. Meaning, it's a dismal isolation from the town proper. And every year, during winter, they have 30 days of night. It's one of this earth eerie phenomenon. Well not really since the world rotates and the sun at one point will really not shine on this part of the arctic.
Anyway, if it happened here in Manila, what would you do for 30 days of night? Here are some thoughts i have if this really happened:
1. crime rate would go up: it's a fact that most crimes happen when it's dark.
2. Baby boom: like in any sleepy province, babies abound. When night falls, suddenly people are in the mood for lovemaking.
3. Tim Yap would have more parties to cover. And Tessa more parties to attend.
4. We would have a countdown?
try to add something more. keep it cheeky.
PS: The movie never really explained what people did during 30 days of night. It just showed 6-7 people running away from vampires. What's also strange is that the lead's hair and make up never got ugly or anything despite the cold weather. And that they never really changed clothes nor brushed their teeth during 30 days. Sabagay, they didn't even explain how those vampires got there, nor why they just suddenly vanished when their leader was vanquished. Maryo J. might have better explanation since he too was in the audience. Maryo J, if you're reading this, please? hehe
Though I wasn't able to join Aya, Lot and Ria to Baguio, I feel happy just the same. I got to spend time with my loved ones here at home. I was able to hit the gym, get a hair cut, shop a little, then hit the gym, spend some more, dine with someone special and then spend some more again.
The next time the three witches of Coke team go out camping in Baguio again, I'll make sure I'm there.
PS: My back hurts a lot. Since I got too excited and cocky about my return to the gym, I lifted more than I could carry, and now my back is hurting like hell. Darn.
Since last Friday, I've been feeling the long weekend. Although I reported to work yesterday and today, it still feels like a weekend.
Looking forward to fun, fun, weekend.
Hope you guys enjoy it too.
I know what I'll be doing over the break. Pigging out and watching PBB. Occasionally, annoying my relatives by whining I've gotten fat and saying I'm hitting the gym. That's about it.
Oh. Maybe I should start reimbursing my phone bills, too. Then again, that's work.
I got thrilled and chilled watching PBB last Sunday evening. When I saw Toni go inside the confession room, my heart raised a beat. When the voice broke the news, I was even more thrilled. When it finally dawned on me that she will be the newest house guest, I just couldn't contain myself. I wanted to go out of the room and scream and shout like it was me.
That was strange particularly because I am not a fan of PBB. But since Mariel got in, I felt in touch. I felt like I was a housemate. I anticipated each episode. I love Mariel. I like Toni. But after seeing her reactions, I love her now even more.
Oh. Two days after, I'm back to normal. :)
My hair is such a mess! I need to get a hair cut. I've been procrastinating... now I look so hairy.
What I find weird with my hair is that it curls at the ends, when the rest of my hair is straight limp. I wonder what's that got to do with not cutting it?
For the last 25 years of my life, I can say that I have been a very good boy. Except for those few times when I had been unintentionally nasty, I'd say there's a goodness stream in my blood.
Last week, I thought deep and hard what to wear for this year's McCann Halloween Costume Event. We were given a theme to work on this year. We got [a very exciting (!)] theme this year - Shrek. We can use any character that has appeared in that movie.
Off the bat, I know I didn't want to come in as Shrek. So what cute character can I come in as? Days went by fast and come Thursday evening I still didn't have anything to wear. I wanted to come in as ninja and share my thoughts or two to the kids, particularly the difference of ninjas and samurais. But, yes, no where in Shrek did a ninja appear.
Okay, okay.
Cramming time. I was deciding last minute if i should come in as Thelonius the executioner or the Ginger Bread Man. I knew I had to be Ginger Bread Man. We're both cute, smart and whiny. Not to mention, we're also both quite wimpy. Hehehe.
I also was toying with the idea of coming in as the big bad wolf in jammies. But Tzi already said he'd come in as the wolf.
Cut to the morning of the event, I found myself trying on my khaki pants. Since I gained a considerable amount of charm and talent, I couldn't fit anymore in those jeans! Gosh.
So I wore my usual tight outfit and then got my Buri Fedora. I just said, I'd be a vacationing tourist from the Bahamas in Shrek's swamp. Oh well.
But the ever-reliable AEs here in McCann are too good! Myrrh brought an extra robe. Lianne brought an extra pair of stockings. And Tzi was out with nausea. So, in 5 mins, I became the big bad wolf.
When Good Boys Become Bad.
This wolf is different from the real big bad wolf. This wolf has gone hard-core. While this wolf didn't have fangs, he had other secret weapons: his flawless skin. Naks.
I will not describe the animalistic behavior anymore. It's a secret. But all I can say is that for one day, I've gone from good to really, really bad.
Now, that's something to forget...
:P
Halloween talaga, because looking at the photos now, kakatakot talaga.
Last Saturday was one of the starriest day of my life. From sunrise til sundown, I saw nothing but stars... Like the Kiefer Sutherland TV show 24, I will document my day that way.
1100 hours -
I woke up feeling energetic as I had a great night's sleep. When I went down and looked for something to eat, I saw mom preparing lunch already. And it was a hell of a lunch. We had Chinese Paella with roasted peanuts, authentic crab and corn soup with really yummy lapu-lapu. While waiting for lunch to be ready I watched my daily fix of Game Ka Na Ba. I find Edu really funny. His guests that day were drag queens. One came in as Liza Minelli, another Regine and then the others I forgot.
1200 hours - still at
Lunch was ready. I've never eaten this much lunch in months! All the rice I could eat and all the soup I could sip. Grabe. Literally, after eating that much I saw stars. Kakahilo, pero it's all worth it. Even if I am supposed to be on a diet, I don't mind eating that much.
1300 hours -
We had a "screen test" for this game show in ABS-CBN. I went there feeling frustrated because i wasn't able to wear the shirt I wanted to wear. Since I packed a lot of carbs for lunch, my tummy became TUMMY in less than 5 mins. All the buttons were popping out already. So, wearing my usual buntis fashion, I went with my ever-reliable jacket.
Finally, screening time. I went up feeling starstrucked. Shucks. I'll get that chance to become a tv star na. Who knows, I might get discovered or something? Or bump into Kris? Hmmmm...
Well, when we got to the studio, it was an empty one. Only the production staff was there, the host wasn't. Sayang.
Having watched this show since it was conceptualized and first aired, I am very familiar with the show. With much restraint, I tried to just look innocent so I could really shift the experience. Shet, this is it...
The test was harder than expected. I didn't even get a passing grade! Darn. I was up against people from the other agencies and they were able to answer more than I did. Hmph. I was thinking pa naman going in that I know a lot of general information. Well, as they say, with age comes knowledge. I was up against advertising veterans (no names...). Hehehe.
Then we ended up making beso. Off to GMA for my weekly ride to fame editing. I felt so sleepy on my way there. Well, a bit elated too. I haven't seen Junette and Tanke in a long time now and I'm glad to see them again. It's the first time (actually baka second na) to see ER and Ria's friend Diday. Then Mike Garcia... and then, who else?
1430 hours - GMA 4F
I was surprised to see the final 3 hanging out at the 4th floor with AC, the show's program manager. I stayed there a bit to make kwento too. I feel really happy for them. Imagine, the promise of a better future? Well, I do hope that there's future for them...
1445 - GMA editing suite
Editing begins. I felt really drowsy this time. I swear, I thought I fell asleep at one point.
1600 hours - GMA Studio, Ground Floor
Something caught my fancy in that studio. There were a lot of people there looking very happy. True to my nosy character I went out to check it. I saw Tim Yap and Frederick Peralta, oh… it’s the grand finals of Celebrity Duets. I went inside the studio to watch. I saw other “celebs” like Anna Licaros, Verni Varga, Jay Durias, David Bunevacz, Jessica Rodriguez, Hayden Kho, Mother Ricky (who’s not as slim anymore!), Wyngard Tracy, (a yellow-clad) Kyla, Cacai Mitra, Jaya and then Joey of Side A, Rajo Laurel, Tessa Prieto and Dennis Valdes, among others.
Showbiz - it’s my guilty pleasure actually. I love variety shows and tapings like such. I giggled every now and then. Well, gave think-out-loud side comments too. Just couldn’t help myself… hehehe. AC said if I didn’t shut up, we might be thrown out of the studio. I shut up and smirked.
Tessa won. Everyone’s happy. All the socialites in studio are raving. But one thing caught my attention. A disgruntled employee of Jessica Rodriguez pouted and showed her disagreement by gesturing her hand and making bulong to everyone. Oh well.
1800 hours – GMA lobby
Jessica may not have won inside the studio but she won outside. David gifted her with a brand new BMW X5 SUV for having reached the show that far. Call that media stunt- a very expensive one at that. Droves of reporters followed her. So Jackie Forster and her own stunt were eclipsed a bit. It felt quite awkward seeing socialites rushing out of the studio trying to get a glimpse of that stunt. When they finally did, they even volunteered to become “bystanders”. From one Louis Vuitton, to Prada to Chanel bags, and Cayenne Porsche, suddenly the image of a very happy, grinning ear to ear, Wilma Galvante was galvanized. Her thought bubble, “Shet, I have arrived.”
The socialites and social climbers made GMA’s Celebrity Duets Grand Finals their Tatler Ball. All the expensive cars were there with matching chauffeurs. They wore casual glam. And English spurted out like you were in the
2000 hours – Sgt. Esguerra
Time to get my own pampering and be my own star. I went to my favorite spa to get my weekly massage.
Starry it is. But not the Yes! Magazine kind of way.
I was sooo thrilled to have finally purchased the vest I've been eyeing for a long time now in Zara. I look really really slim wearing that. And take note, I can still breath normally. Aside from that, came the thrill of buying three really nice long sleeved polos from the same store. I wanted to also get the white jacket from Tyler but I think I already spent too much at Zara. Ria bought her Tyler bag, which to be fair, was quite a steal.
Then we had dinner at Cibo. Yummy. Kaya lang, I was sworn to losing weight so i didn't eat. I just had iced tea nalang. Hmm, I saw Dolphy and Laveena Pessumal.
Ang saya naman ng Rockwell trip that night.
PS: if any of you know of a store that sells a Black Burberry shades stock number 30021, please inform me ASAP.
October 19, 2007. Two important things happended today.
One, Glorietta 2 was bombed by unknown suspects. Initial reports say that it could have been an LPG, but now they're saying it may be a bomb. Police and the president herself said it's not part of a destabilization plot. Whatever it is that may have caused this thing, they sure did get their message across. Lives were lost, many got hurt and everyone else panicked. This tragedy will sure send everyone in paranoia once again.
The other "important" thing that happened today was Dusit. We were having our lunch presentation with clients when the bomb set off. I felt a little nudge at 1:30. I brushed it off. I thought I was having too much chocolate fondue already.
Then our own mini-tragedy happened. The look and service of Basix, terrible. The only saving grace of Basix was it's chocolate marshmallow fondue. I thought the whole restaurant was ill-planned. The pasta area was situated near the entrance. The salad station was weird. Their dishes were named generically. Someone points out that the glasses have been pre-etched already therefore the management didn't care enough to change it. So the dishes were "appropriately named" vegetable, fish, chicken, beef. (gee, thanks for pointing out the obvious. wish you could've pointed out bland from the gamey piece of beef.) And then the shrimps were saved on top of ice. and the list goes on and on. I had to ask twice to get my utensil set. I had to ask twice for my Coke light.
***************************************
inConvenience is key
After that less than scrumptious meal, of course, we have pay respect to the john. The restroom is conveniently placed at the other end of the hotel. Well, you can also visit the restroom on the mezzanine. How convenient, really.
Gen might have had hyped this whole buffet experience, but personally I thought it sucked.
But then, the adventure starts as soon as we stepped out of that buffet area. Didn't realize that things could go far worse.
We learned that Glorietta was bombed soon after we stepped out of Basix. Of course, after getting calls from our loved ones, the pack was so ready to go back to the office and seek serenity and comfort in our own messy desks (well, aside from rushing back to finish our deadlines). Since none of us brought a car, we needed to get a cab to get back to office. We waited. Waited. Waited. Talked to the guard to get us a cab.... Ooohhh, there's our cab! Oh wait, that lola is stealing our cab! Oh, no. Waited again. Waited....
Then finally Gen volunteered that we can get a hotel cab to drive us to the office. Unfortunately none was available. Dusit is the only hotel in Makati that actually runs out of cabs. Strange? Wait till you read this...
***********************************
OOOOPs, bawal dyan!
After waiting for so much more, I went again inside to ask if there's a cab available na. The manager on duty said he was going to call for one now. When he finally did, he freshly asked, "are you booked here?" "We're guests of Basix", I curtly answered. He gave me a confused look and purported, "Ay, di kasi pwede pag mag-hotel taxi pag hindi kayo naka check in eh..." Since when?!
Though this is only the third time I am riding a hotel cab, why on earth, please tell me, would you make this service exclusive to checked in guests. We are, after all, still hotel guests, having eaten at Basix! What are we- scum of earth?
Further, when the driver approached us, he gave us ten million reasons why he can't drive us there. He excused that Ayala was closed, Buendia is closed, Makati Med is brimming with people, etc. etc. We just scooted.
After trooping inside back to that ugly hotel, we just agreed to walk back to the office. Unfortunately, Gen wasn't feeling well. Therefore we can't walk back. Lee finally volunteered her father's driver. Alleluia.
************************************
Sorry, you're not allowed to sit there
While waiting for Lee's driver to pick us up, we waited in the chairless lobby. The guards asked us if we could stay somewhere else as we're loittering. WTF? We're trapped here because your idiot guards couldn't get us a cab, and Glorietta has just been bombed, and you're telling us we're loiterring? Where on earth are we supposed to wait??? In the toilet?
So we went up hoping those idiots could leave us alone. When we got to the dripping mezzanine, we found this girl half-awake snoring. So we said, finally, decent place to sit down. Before we even got our booties to sink in those retro-looking hard cushions, this guard approached us and asked, "Are you hotel guests?" We responded, albeit defensively, "Yes, we've just finished our meeting and had lunch at Basix, now we're waiting for our sundo." He said we can't stay there because we're not checked in. Apparently, they reserved the yuckiest for the unluckiest hotel guests. Oafs. Gen argued back and then the guard just kept apologizing "pasensiya na". Gen wasn't feeling well. And she said it but that guard still refuse to let us wait there. By the way, that hallway was empty. What, wearing our office wear, did we look sleazy or kadiri that we can't stay there? Gosh. Hookers we're clinging onto the caucasians left and right and they allow it. This guy brushing his pearly whites and they allow it. People in slippers they allow, but for us to sit down, we're denied that right?
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You can't drink water here if you're not checked in
So we just went back up to where the clients were and stayed there. Thank God, with "proper" endorsement, we were allowed to "loiter" there. While waiting, Gen felt dehydrated. She needed to drink water. But even before she could do that, the wait staff said, "if you're not guests here, you can't drink there." I am sooo exasperated. Water is free. In other hotels, they'd offer you water as soon as you step in. Here in this hotel, it's some kind of precious commodity, just like their chairs/sofas.
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Printing your brand manual on tarp
As soon as we took the lift, I noticed two banners there. One that says what the brand heritage is, and the other talks about their Brand DNA. Apparently, they print their brand manual on tarp. The Brand DNA says something about offering something that the others don't offer. Initially, I was so curious to find out what those are.... then after this whole experience, apparently:
1. Other hotels have moderate to good service, in Dusit they make it a point to treat you bad.
2. In other hotels, they try to make the hotel look smart, classy and professional, in Dusit, they make you feel like crap by not providing seats, available services and really dripping ceilings.
3. In other hotels, they try to make you feel welcome, at Dusit they make you want to just leave. Talk about hospitality.
I am also in a service-oriented industry. I may not know the golden rules of servicing, but I sure know that treating your guests right is paramount. I am sharing this experience to everyone because I felt bad seeing us being treated that way.
Thank God the driver finally came and we're out of the god-forsaken hotel. As soon as I got back to the office, my tummy started to rumble. Oh no, I'm LBMing.
If I were you, I'd re-post this and share how terrible Dusit service is. In my opinion, this hotel was more tragic than the whole Glorietta incident. Thank God, I'm back in my little desk.
What on Earth was I thinking when I watched the Baby Face Concert? Was I expecting Britney to pop out anytime? Was I expecting vocal histrionics caliber of Mariah? I surely shouldn't. But I expected much more.
The concert started quite late. The front act Tribe of Levi dished out a good 30 minute show, with band member Angel stealing the show (he did an impeccable version of Shaggy's Angel). Then lights on.
Lights on? Was it a signal that the concert was finished already? Were we supposed to leave already? That's kinda weird - to put the lights back when the concert supposed to have started already.
Worse yet, I felt like I was watching my ever-reliable cable channel ETC. Every now and then there station ID would pop out, interchangeably with ABS' and Myx'. I felt at home. I felt quite sleepy.
Good thing something distracted me and caught my fancy. At the Araneta, they sell beers! Pardon me, this is my first time to watch at the Big Dome, so I didn't know these things happened. Then the lighted horns caught my fancy again. Those devil horns were all lit in the midst of darkness. It was a fun sight.
Then, suddenly, a guy came out of the stage wearing casual clothes. Oh, it was Baby Face. Andyan na pala siya... ho-hum, time to watch. That was my thought balloon. Gosh. The start of the show really bored me to death. Literally, I was uneasy. I kept fidgeting, chewing gum, yawning. He sang Jim Croce, James Taylor and Eric Clapton songs. Ho hum. Double ho hum.
The second half proved to be so much better than the first. He finally sang the more popular ones: the songs he wrote for the girls. Conspicuously, he didn't mention Toni Braxton's name, when all I can associate with Baby Face is Toni Braxton. Well, for those who don't know you can ask me.
Anyway, there was this girl who came out at the middle of the show. Sasha. She sounded so much like Whitney! Galing!
Though the show ended on a light note, honestly, I felt cheated. I felt like I was watching ASAP Baby Face edition. It was nothing special, nothing to look forward to. Parang it's something I could watch sa DVD.
Oh well.
If anything I realized that that show proved to me that he is quite popular among the Chinese and the older set. That whole night, I saw loads and loads of chinita women with their dates and old rich.
Hey, Imee Marcos was there!
It's not really reality, honey. It's called faking it.
If reality tv were real, then there wouldn't be a need for story editors anymore. If it were real, then competition will be really stiff and become every man for himself, especially if the pot is 1M.
Bottomline, we're just being made to believe that their lives are real and interesting. Further, we're reduced to mere audience. If it were real, then by one way or another, we would be somehow involved in it, directly or indirectly yes?
I just found myself answering this question this morning: should we disqualify this contestant because he is being accused of "cheating". But in real life, people do cheat. In real life, we can't just oust anyone.
If this were reality, I would say, bring it on!
Were you ever told this by your school principal? Or worse yet getting caught running in the hallways and being punished for it?
Well, I have never been caught with this offense, only because there's no such policy in my highschool. In anycase, my team mates and I saw ourselves running in the hallways the past few days. In separate instances, we were running in the hallways for different reasons.
The first time, Yettie, Ria and I were making harot to each other about Ria's nasty behavior. When we asked her to wait for Yettie and me as we talked to the lost and found girl of the building, she left us and planned on going up alone. When we were looking for her, we realized that black heart Ria left us already. Then we saw her waiting outside the elevator. To cut the already long story short, Yettie and I were making her ipit inside the elevator so she will be trapped (tit for tat). When the elevator door opened, Yettie and I were trying our bestest to block her, when the MD (managing diva) of this agency suddenly appeared.
Gasp.
Yettie nearly stepped on his foot and going face to face intimate with him. Yettie said hi, he said, hellllowww?! That was hilarious. Absolutely! Then we ran sa hallway before he can even start screaming at us.
The second incident just happened last night. The agency had a little send-off party for one of the best planners here. At around 11PM last night, three obviosuly drunk AEs showed up. One was laughing like mad. The other was just being her usual maldita self, but this time only more lewd than maldita. And then the other one, cussing and cursing like mad. She scared the s*#@ out of me. And then she invited to "join" them drink more. And she was cussing everyone on the floor. Worse, she was banging things. She's louder pa pala when she's drunk. Yikes.
So to escape that emotional anguish, me, monster, lotskie and ER ran going towards the other side. Then we heard her voice there, so we ran back to our area. But her voice was still as loud, so we went to the other exit, 1 flight down. Then took the lift there.
It's just so hilarious looking back because her loud voice resonated in the entire floor! Grabe.
Well, I'm just happy that there's no such policy here in McCann!
I am for the third time attempting to re-post this entry in my blog. Hope the third time works.
I have been wanting to become a vegan for the longest time. I hope I will become successful this time around. The last time I tried to become one I only lasted two and a half days. Being a vegan has its perks and, well, negative effects on the body too.
Daniel, one of the Bible's foremost character is a vegan. And he grew up to become a fine young man. He was considered to be one of the most handsome during his time, and of course, smartest and the healthiest. He refused to eat anything that's not planted.
Vegetarianism is one of the more popular tenet of the Buddhists. They say if you eat meat, you will become unpure. As they say, it has life and it's quite "fishy". The blood that gets that into your body makes you unpure. Therefore, if you must visit the temple, you must abstain from eating meat (whether it's your partner's meat, or animal meat). For me, this falls under the concept of Karma...
Well they say if you eat vegetables and fruits, you will feel better, lighter and move faster. Being full of vitamins and minerals too you can be assured that you will become healthy.
However, they are also saying that vegetables have become contaminated with lead and formaldehyde. Nothing out there is safe, anymore. And what goes with your vegetables is also quite tricky. If you cook your vegetables, or put oil on your salad then it still becomes unhealthy.
Bottomline, i want to lose the unnecessary weight and become healthy once again. The last time I practiced to become a vegan i miserably failed. Maybe i should pace myself this time and learn how to do it.
They say people who are vegans live longer. For all we know, I may this Earth's last vegan.. :)
Why do I have to learn the hard way?
The Starbucks branch in Ayala cor Buendia is probably the worst branch I have ever visited. While I've only been there for like five times, I have yet to have a single transaction with them. Every time I go there, it's always a bad encounter. Here's a summary of all the bad experiences I've had with this branch.
The first time I went there, that place was filled with overly noisy guests. For some reason, it felt more peaceful to be outside standing in the middle of Buendia than staying inside. As an insight, people like hanging out in Starbucks because they find a certain kind of chaotic recluse out of the urban noise, but this one, it's just chaos. And, by the way, the succeeding times I went there, it was just as noisy. You should know why.
Next. I am unlucky when trying to order here. For some reason, the only drink I get is almost always not available. I like drinking Zen and Basic Black. Either they've run out of that or there's no ice. Good grief.
The baristas ought to provide you a friendly atmosphere, to make your stay conducive, whenever you make a trip there. Hence, first name basis name calling. But if you're surrounded by boisterous guests, hounding them with questions like "ano ba ang masarap?" or "anong bago?", yeah, how can you perform well? Worse, they order in bulk and collect money from each other on the spot, with just one person ordering. They probably aren't aware of the concepts of falling in line and POS machines.
Another, the airconditioning system of this branch is always being repaired. Gosh. Why can't they just put industrial fans there if they can't afford to buy a new one? The cost of repair is probably even more expensive. Al fresco is much appreciated, these days.
Change. You come there so early in the morning trying to get your fix. You give the cashier 500 pesos. She asks you, "Do you have a smaller bill?" I will have spared myself the agony of being asked that question by giving her the exact amount if I had it, but I don't. I obviously don't. She asks you back, "Do you think you can break this first?" Dude, seriously? When I was about to give her the evil look she just said, "Oh, I have coins! Is that fine? Medyo madami lang..." What the hell?
I always end up telling myself to bring my business somewhere else. I always end up going to RCBC instead of this branch. Gad, I hate this branch, really. Looking back, why did it take me 5 times to realize this. Something must be wrong with me. But then again, please try not to spoil your day by visiting this branch.
I have yet to meet someone who's as strong-willed as Teejae. I admire TJ for her strong, no nonsense and straight to the point POVs on anything. And best of all, she knows what she's talking about. And if you have these, people either get scared of you, get pissed at you or just try to run away from you.
Teejae's my client too. And I love working with her. Not to say that we never had fighting moments, but TJ knows how to compartmentalize it. She knows what's work and what's outside work.
I also admire TJ's faith in God. I admire that she's never afraid to say praise and ask God for guidance and help. And she's a very good friend too.
Yesterday, she celebrated her birthday! I saw her the other day at their office and gamely asked if she will take a leave. She gamely answered yes. But what struck me the most is that she's going to take her birthday leave and rock on! WOW!
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I know to some this may sound weird but for workaholics like TJ, going on leave is hard to do. TJ, you deserve to be happy. Hope you had a good one! Happy B!
Despite working this weekend, I still had fun. I went with my usual Saturday routine and then took some time off Sunday.
Saturday started with me stealing some lanzones from the fruit basket. I am not supposed to get/eat some because I have eaten breakfast yet. That's supposed to be bawal. Also, I am nursing colds for 2 weeks now, I really should refrain from eating fruits this "yin" for my body. But I ate anyway. I ate some 10 pieces of it. Yummy!
Then lunch time, we had lechon cebu and galunggong and monggo. Drool. That re-fried Cebu lechon was the best. It's skin was fried to crispy perfection. The meat was just perfect: tasty and easy to chew. It's meat was melting as you chew it.
Then I had to rush to the editing of Ride to Fame. Saturdays are normally reserved for viewing this show. It was one of the best episodes of the show, I think. The twists and turns are getting tougher every week! But Cheska was eliminated. I cried actually while we were taping that. It's one of those times you feel it's not fair.
Then after that, I had to run to Shangri-la Mall to meet client. We had a sampling activation there so I have to watch over that. Unfortunately, by the time I got there, my client has already left for The Fort.
Anyway, I was debating in my head if I should go or not since that's like going to the opposite side to where I live. But I decided duty calls. So I went. When I got there, she texted me to say that she's at Eastwood already for another meeting. I missed her. Oh well.
What was I supposed to do now at The Fort. So I went to the gym nalang. Then after some cardio, I went on to Serendra to have dinner at brazil!brazil! Though I was alone, I felt very satisfied! No one trying to stop me from eating meat, meat and more meat!
Then finally, I decided to get my body scrubbed that night at this spa in QC. I had Kapeng Barako scrub. It was yummy...
The whole night of fun just kept going on. Until when I got home. I just realized, it sucks to be single. The whole day passed doing things alone. Hmmm. Not that I hate being single, masaya lang if you had someone to do these things with.
I will spare this precious blog the other juicy details. It ends here.
Anyway, Sunday was family day. We went to Trinoma, had dinner at Inasal. I also had lumpia before that. And KFC before that. And munchkins before. All within 15 minutes.
Earlier that day, I stole more pieces of lanzones and longgan. By the sound of it, I will be nursing this colds for more days to come. But it's all worth it.
This weekend was indeed fun. I may not have surfed with Lot and Aya and spent time with them at the Summer Capital, but I had my own version of fun at home and elsewhere too.
Did you ever drop your cell phone in a puddle or even the toilet? I did. (Don’t ask how that happened…) It happens to be one of the most annoying things to happen to a cell freak like me. It usually means you have to replace your phone, which obviously sucks. But now - thanks to the experts at WikiHow- we learn that sometimes, if you’re fast enough, you can still save your baby in time.
TIPS:
WARNINGS:
Yesterday, September 22, was a blissful day for me. Something so fun, exciting, unexpected and delicious happened to me. I just ended the night smiling ear to ear. If could re-live this day again and again, I will not be regretful at all.
Sexy, naughty, bitchy me, I had so much fun. No details, sorry. You can ask me if you want.
September 21 marked two important events for me (well, three if I consider Yettie's birthday - happy birthday again Yets).
In 1972, ex-President Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law on September. Depending on how you look at it, that day marked a significant change in everyone's life. That day marked forever in world history.
For many, the declaration of martial law meant curtailment of freedom. It meant curfews, endless violence and the start of turbelent moments ahead. For some, they saw a gold mine. Thye took advantage and nepotism as a politico-socio-cultural ideology was born. To most of the common folks, it only meant bad news. As bottom feeders, change was something to be desired. All they could see were the continuous mushrooming of buildings and complexes that would help seal the image of this country as a fast-developing country. But that progress was empty. It was a bubble economy ready to pop any moment.
Dictatorship was suddenly the in-thing. Your right to live and to think, essentially, was suddenly curtailed. Now, you're just a puppet / mechanism acting out someone else's dream for you. Life was taken out of your hand. Now a dictator just gives you order on what to do and what to do. Sure, you can still have your own decisions in the small stuff, but you're acting on a certain accordance that you have no control of. You're just a mere extension of the dictator and the machinery running it. Worse, you are made to feel you're empowered but not really. It's the biggest lie on can ever run into.
And they were living in fear. Fear of being policed anytime if someone complains. Fear of being charged of something you didn't do. Or fear of being anynonymous despite any effort to be heard. Polar opposites, yes.
Short of saying, those years were wasted. Not only time was wasted, all the efforts to change the system (read: improve it), all the time, precious resources. You just sapped out your own energy doing nothing. Like a mouse in a science lab running inside the proverbial wheel (of life).
The past few years of my life felt like this. A dictatorship. I felt like being dictated upon. Under-valued.
September 21, 2007, also meant something important for me. After enduring this, I just empowered myself and decided on an affirmative action. I want liberation. Liberty, afterall, was mine to keep. On this date, I decided that I will be a free man. I will free myself from any imprisonment. I've never felt happier. I've never felt more relieved.
So happy, I bought two things that I didn't know had connection to this day. I bought DKNY's Be Delicious EDT. After feeling yucky and wasted, I felt delicious once again. And of course, I bought the CIVIL WAR series of Marvel Comics. Yes, two (medyo pilit) relevant things to September 21.
I do know that after crying for liberation, my tribulation is just about to begin. Magsisimula pa lang ang bakbakan. The battle will be dirty and long I guess, but I will win. I can't lose this fight. I have everything to win, at this point.
Win or lose, I have perfectly good reasons to smile. For one, I have my friends and family backing me up.
No retreat. No surrender. Wish me all the luck.
