THE DAY HAS COME

Liars go to jail.

MODELS: WANTED

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when restless AEs drink beer, what do they do?

When restless Coke AEs meet to have decent dinner and a few rounds of caraffe and beer, what do you get? An over-energetic game of CHARADES?

Last night 121 saw the fiercest battle of AEs in an exciting match of charades! The category ranged from the most mundane to the most trivial stuf like Jologs Quiz, songs across decades and Oscar-movie contenders.

There were six of us: ER, Lot and Me (the group that won!) and Gen, Aya and Yettie. While chugging beers and caraffes, we were also busy acting out the topics and emoting to death. Heck, we didn't even care if there were other people staring at us. We were really game; hungry to get each point!

Here are some sidelights worth mentioning:

1. ER's attempt to act out SPOILARIUM. ER gamely channeled an acquarium fish tank with matching pursed lips and swiveling hands. Nope, we weren't able to get it.

2. My rendition of The Redemption Song. I had a full story acted out to build my redemption story. And to be fair, it was a very good one!

3. Yettie's Homage to local flick-dom. She singled-handedly guessed Lagalag: The Eddie Fernandez Story.

4. Yettie again. Sounds like "paypay" ... oh..oh.. (excitedly) PETRANG KABAYO! Ang layo naman...

5. Gen Wang and her "immortal" performance. the song was my immortal, she acted out my aswang.

6. ER again. She was supposed to act out Maggie Dela Riva Story. She was acting out a scene from a Maggi commercial. drinking soup, getting raped. wow, i got really confused.

7. Aya was the winningest performer/actor that night. And her best rendition of how FORNICATION should be muestered.

8. And Lot. The lola in violet tights was looking very intently at her crocet top. She was undressed by this groovy lola and she didn't know.

It was a fun night. the hardest entries that night were the following:
1. Theme from Mahogany
2. Mr. Holland's Opus
3. Bohemian Rhapsody
4. Sweet Soul Revue
5. THX118 (Gen, this is not an award-winning movie, it was a George Lucas' director's cut and the main title should've been THX1182.)
6. Amelie

And this early, Gen and Aya are lobbying that we change teams. I think we should but i want to stick it out with my current as well. ERs got the "years" so she knows more songs than i do. Lot is really skillful with songs and can act really well. And me, well, i'm just passionate about this game.

Well, until the next round of charades... in the meantime, i am already thinking what our next topic should be.

PLEASANT SURPRISES and some minor BUMPS.

August 22, 2007. This day was filled with pleasant surprises. From 12:01 to 2:01, it was just filled with fun, hip-happening moments I will not forget.
I was out with someone on the eve of my birthday and spending the night with this person was totally fun and exhilarating. The whole experience was a mix of feelings, and definitely ended on a good note. At exactly 12:01, Gen called to greet me a happy birthday. It was a touching call. Then Lot was also on the other line. Oh, Lot is my FGF. If you don’t know what these letters stand for, ask me. I went home with a smile on my face. Oh happy night! Time to sleep! I need to look fresh and giddy on my birthday.

When I woke up, I was quite disappointed that my phone had zero messages. I thought everyone forgot my birthday. L Then I saw this little icon on my phone that said something unclear to me. So I tinkered with my phone and realized that my phone memory was already filled. So I started deleting messages. I went down to shower already and guess what?! I saw mom preparing Chinese Birthday Misua for us!!! In China, it is especially important to prepare misua for birthdays as this symbolizes long life. Eh preparing misua is a difficult task. The ingredients and the preparation are quite tedious. Mom was up early. Mmmm, yummy misua!

Then after shower, I went back up to my room and then saw my phone blinking. It had 50 messages waiting to be opened. Awwwwww….. well some of them was work- following up work and deadlines to beat. But most of it were greetings na. Giddy as I am, I opened the messages one by one and thanked them too.

Surprising though, my two other best friends didn’t greet me. Oh well.

Since I can’t wear my red outfits still, I wore a two-tone bright-green, blues-clues inspired shirt. According to one of the AEs here in McCann, green suited me. Its happy enough color is a good replacement for red. Halfway, though, my tummy started to rumble. I think I ate too much misua and now I upset my own stomach. The whole walk to the building was quite a hell. I was sweating profusely, in desperate need of a toilet. Finally, I found oasis!

So when I got to my desk, I’ve already lost half a gallon of water. I looked a little pale. Everyone was asking why I was sweaty. I just said, “mainit kasi sa labas”.
Then some other relatives texted me, called me, officemates and clients too. Then after lunch, the Coke team surprised me with a yummy cake. Dolly Sin from Claudettes. Slurp. Ang sarap! Dennis Luna and I had some catching up late in the afternoon. Then finally dinner!

The cast included Gen, ER, Dennis, Aya, Lot, Ria, Yettie and me. It was drizzling when we left the office. But when we got to Rockwell, it was pouring! We had dinner at Gram’s Diner then went to UCC after. We had some naughty and nice discussions about trivial and superficial matters.

Then we decided to call it a night at 11. I rode with Aya and ER going home. But wait! The night wasn’t over yet. We had one for the road drinks at this watering-hole in leviste (121). We stayed up until past one. Then we went home na talaga.

I want to say thank you to those who remembered my birthday yesterday. Thank you for sharing that day with me and making me happy. Gen, thanks so much for all the love and effort. ER and Aya, thanks for the beer talk and you-know-what. And to Dennis for the fudge chorva and Ceylon tea at UCC and to Lot, of course, for everything else. For those things that money can’t buy (naks). Ria, thanks for fighting with me. Hehe.

It was a day full of pleasant surprises, indeed.

Roberto Cavalli on Marriage and what i think about it.

Marriage is not what it used to be. When we say we're going to marry someone now, we don't necessarily mean that we're going to be with that person for the rest of our lives. And I'm not sure that's a bad thing. If you spend your happiest moments with someone, but not necessarily the rest of your life, is that horrible? - Roberto Cavalli (Details Magazine)

He said it sweetly and nicely. But I feel bad about this. Suddenly, relationships become arbitrary and excusable. Does it mean that now we marry for convenience and no longer for what we're feeling?

Am I just old-school, or this is how life really has become: RELATIVE. Suddenly what's bad can now be good if you give it a good rational explanation.

I think institutions like marriage are built for a purpose, that is to organize us, that's according to philosophers like Thomas Hobbes, John Locke and Jean Jacques Rosseau. Heck, even Machiavelli thinks so. It's better to be feared than to be loved, remember?

i trust you.

Trust is underrated. Nowadays, people neglect trust and brush it off like it's nothing.

Trust is one of the more important virtues that we need to have. In relationships, when there's no trust, love begins to fall apart. Jealousy, envy, cheating and doubt set in. Normally, the start of the fall of a beautiful relationship really begins with loss of trust.

Parang now, people just brush it off like it's nothing. They know they can say sorry anyway later. Or they don't care because they have nothing to value anyway. Parang deadma kung anong result, basta gagawin ko gusto ko, kung ano ang magpapaligaya sa akin.

Trust is important. In fact it's the only thing we need, together with love.

How else do you trust mineral water? Or the air you breathe? Or the product you eat? Or the advise parents give you? Or your bosses? It's trust. You just trust that the other person is saying the same thing.

Don't say I trust you if you don;t mean it.

Oh Sam Oh!

When I saw the merch plug of ETC, I panicked! No, it wasn't because my Coke light merch plug had glitches but because they were looking for Sam Oh's screen partner. You see, I love Sam Oh a lot because she's witty, funny and skillful! But more than that, I've always dreamed of becoming a celebrity, one way or another. And this seemed like a very good opportunity to start becoming one.

Immediately, i asked Aya what she thinks about it and should I join. You see Aya's my accomplice when it comes to this kind of things. She always gives me a push and boost that i need! Very exciting, I said!

Then as if that validation is not enough, i went to ask DREW Arellano and Personality and Image-expert/stylist Olen Lim, too. Drew said I could pass for that role and that I just needed to lose pounds so I'd look better on TV. Uh, sheesh. That's the nicest thing I've heard. Miss O also said that I could come out on TV, I seemed articulate and genuinely interested. In my mind, shucks, I could pass off as another Drew, perhaps! Hehehe, dreaming is free, yes?

Well, hey, i think i am bit qualified. I used to host back in school, i write my own scripts (and copy too for our advertising materials) and come out in print ads for Coke and Globe, and some press releases too.

And so I waited for the Sam Oh plug again to come out so I can get the details where to send my folio. But when i caught it again, i got disappointed. The search had an age limit. 25. I turned 26 last wednesday.

Ohhhh, too bad. Sayang naman! Oh well. Maybe it's not meant for me... Or maybe I am meant for other things...

Last Saturday, Sam interviewed me for a vignette scheduled to come out on September. And she did say I was a natural for TV! Even the producers said so! And it wasn't because i was flexing my AE muscle. It was a spontaneous response. Ganda!

Watch out for this on ETC, Crime and Suspense and 2nd Avenue. It's the closest thing to Sam Oh, my favorite. And the closest thing to becoming Almost Famous!

PS: I've come out on similar interviews pala on MTV and ABS, so I am not a greenhorn. Hehehe.

User-Friendly

User-friendly people have really mushroomed nowadays! I got a call from someone significant before the other day and asked me if I had time to go to the gym.

No "how are you?", "kumusta na?" or anything. It was a straight out question, "can you go to the gym now?" And so i said no, sorry I am not free, etc....

I investigated further, I found out that because I am probably the only one she knows who live in QC who also goes to the gym, i was the best person to call. She said very casually, wala kasi akong kasama eh. O sige, bye na! Click...

Yes, after I said no, why and she giving her reason, she hung up.

Sabagay, it's not the first time she's doing this to me. She even had the gall to make me sumbat at one point! Hmph. Can't take this woman's bravado!

Backtrack ng slight, she normally pysches you up by asking some questions and then she monopolizes the rest of the communication. Siguro, for an hour of conversation, she'd eat up about 58minutes of air time. She just needs a sounding board, i think. This time around, she didn't hesitate to go straight to the point.

But there's another chance, and there's another opportunity. I bet this is not the last phonecall I am going to get from her. Maybe she will call me again in two years to therotically as.

It really isn't over till the fat lady sings.

Something New and something Old

Last Sunday, I was finally able to make it to my personal appointment with the Lord. I have been re-scheduling Him and could not offer a time. But Sunday was a wake up call! I am finally able to make it to Church. I felt renewed after attending it. Though I have so much stress now, I felt really relieved. God was very personal and He was telling me how big a part I play in the lives of other people. Thank you Lord for imparting that message. I feel better now and a sense of purpose. Though i have been attending this church for the longest time now, I felt new again as i've been absent for months now.

Then, I went to meet Lot for lunch at Shangri-La. We were supposed to go to Bonifacio High Street for lunch but we decided to go back to this place we love dearly CAFE JUANITA. It was a pleasant surprise that we were able to get a table for us since we arrived quarter past twelve already. Though it was packed, food was its usual best. The Morrocan-Bohemian mood and tone of the place is enough to give you a trip! We initally ordered for fish, my all time favorite rich and delectable ox-tail kare-kare and Adobo served 2-way, we discovered that they offered buffet lunch set up for a very low price of 395+. I got a hefty serving of really good home-cooked food. I had three trips to the kare-kare pot, adobo, tilapia, lumpia among others. I have set my eyes to the kare-kare since I got there. YUMMY! It was a whole new experience to eat Kare-Kare once again, and this time to your heart's desire. The old house set-up with dark wood and decorations one can find in old Manila houses, how can I not feel at home and feel like it's mom serving the dishes. Grabe, i came out of Cafe Juanita 30million pounds heavier. In fact, my lunch lasted me till breakfast today!

While waitng for Pamps, Lot, Nessa and I headed to Valle Country Club for some camwhoring. We saw the see-saw empty, slides and this bridge right there. Though the place is old, it was a new experience for me because this is the first time I am really hanging out with Nessa minus the booze! And of course, when was the last time i had time to go to a country club, walk and just take a slowdown?

A roadtrip to Tagaytay ensued! But halfway through i decided to not go anymore and just look for DVD and get a massage. I went down at Metrowalk and scampered for new DVDs. I got Jericho the series (which is nice, by the way!) and Hostel part 2 (gore-fest again!) and of course IronMan. I was in Metrowalk last Friday whole day and Saturday (half-day) for our event, but this time around, I was there without a reason. I sat back, drank Coke light, looked at little mayas being chased by cute kids and expensive cars queueing. Nice!

Then i headed to this spa in Malate where the interiors are quite old and bings you a trip down to Old Manila. Ganda! The massage of course is just as good. For a change, I got a scrub and massage.

It was a Sunday Slowdown indeed. And more importantly, it was a Sunday full of new memories set in old places.

Wish you were there!

Boy Interrupted

I remember Regine Velasquez's break up song with Ariel Rivera "You Made Me Stronger". No, I'm not a fan of Regine. I just feel that that song means a lot and especially back then, after a painful breakup, that helped me get through. I'll try to write the lyrics that had the most impact on me. Pardon if I get the lyrics all mixed up, sometimes I tend to murder them, just like my friend Aya (hehe) -

Is it hard to believe I’m okay
After all, it’s been awhile
Since you walked away
I’m way past crying
Over you finding someone else
You turned my days into nights (days into nights)
But now I see the light
And this maybe a big surprise to you

But you’ve made me stronger
By breaking my heart
You ended my life
And made a better one start
You taught me everything
From falling in love
To letting go of a lie
Yes, you’ve made me stronger
Baby, by saying goodbye

If you try to believe I’m not over you
Go ahead
There’s nothing wrong with making believe
I know
Cuz I used to pretend you’d come back to me
But time has been such a friend
Brought me to my senses again
And I have you to thanked (I have you to thanked)
For setting me free (for setting me free)

Cuz you’ve made me stronger
By breaking my heart
You ended my life
And made a better one start
You taught me everything
From falling in love
To letting go of a lie
Yes, you’ve made me stronger
Baby, by saying goodbye

Think again
Don’t feel so sorry for me, my friend
Oh, don’t you know
I’m not the one at the losing end (I’m not the one)

Cuz you’ve made me stronger
By breaking my heart
You ended my life
And made a better one start
You taught me everything
From falling in love

PS: "Cuz" not mine.

Anyway, the lines in bold and underlined are the parts that had most impact on me. After that break up I thought I wouldn't be able to pick up the pieces and move on. But I learned that things happen for a reason and when you're the one breaking up with a person, then that means you have more reasons to try find sense and move on.

I used to think that I couldn't love seriously. For me loving was just an experience only a few people could find and it was quite lofty at that. Love for me then was very conceptual and elusive. Until this person came, I believed that love is just a switch you need to turn on. I finally knew how it feels to love, nevermind if i was never loved. But when everything is over, the hardest part is denial. How do you admit that things are finally over and that it's time to move on? Especially when something so special feels like a lie altogether? Though you try to deny it over and over again, lying to yourself will eventually take its toll and one day you realize, "Stupid of me to sulk. Time to move on!"

I moved on. Finally! Or so I thought.

I saw an old friend last Friday in Eastwood. And he gave me the most annoying news of 2007! He said it in such light-hearted fashion that I thought it was rather insulting than helpful. "Hey! Guess what? May balita ako sa'yo! Nag-di-deyt pala kayo ni (tutut) ngayon!", he casually jested. "Huh? Not anymore! What are you talking about and how'd you know?", said this masochistic me. "Well, my (tutut) and (tutut) are (tutut)! and so I know!" I just gasped in exasperation. WTF?

"And oh, another!", As if the other news wasn't bad enough. "Pero don't na blabber about it". (blabber about my own life, why will i do that?) "I saw (tutut) before and you know what, we almost had something together until (tutut) mentioned your name. Of course (tutut) didn't know that we know each other. (tutut) even said that mahal na niya ako and that even if I had someone else, (tutut) is willing daw to be my other half.", casually again. "You know, (tutut)'s such a player! We had a couple of drinks too and then we just stopped. Naawa ako sayo!" Frackers! "(tutut) naman said good things about you!", still very matter-of-factly.

That's like running thru a jagged sword in my heart ten times. I can't fault my friend. Afterall, if I say that I am so over that person then I guess that's just fine, yes? But what if all these months you realize you were just sidetracked and there has never been a closure and moving on? What if it all it takes was this person to say bad things and feel bad about it? What if moving on was not a way out?

Sometimes I pretended that someday this person will come back and tell me that it was wrong to break up. Pathetic as it sounds, everyone wants to feel vindicated especially in matters like this. But i think I shouldn't be faulted for feeling this way. First love is hard to die.

After a long time after that fateful day, I've met other people and have gone out again. Back then i know that this person is not worthy. A player, compulsive liar and user-friendly. And because of this realization, I've since then came up with a 5-way test when getting to know people.

However, now i realized that after all these years, i've used this person as my benchmark in evaluating relationships. Totally wrong.

I heard from my friend that this person feels a bit sorry for me for not treating me well and that despite all the care this person has for me, it never fluorished. As the end of this song says, "don't feel sorry for me because i am not the one on the losing end". Yes, till now, no one has taken this person seriously. At age 40, isn't this person supposed to be settled down already? Although this person has achieved successes in business and career, this person's personal life has so much yet to be desired. A 10 year relationship/lie gone bad, being cheated upon 3 times and being in constant chase of a relationship may not be a good sign of personality and conduct.

But why am I reacting this way if I have moved on already? Why am I so vehement in my denial? All of a sudden, I thought I have moved on a steady mindset already? I missed the times before, I missed the moments, but to be honest, I don't miss the person anymore.

For one moment, i got side tracked. For one moment, i got interrupted. Now, moving on.

26 and counting

My birthday is coming soon and I'm beginning to ponder what my milestones would be. I am thinking it should be a step up in my career, more friends, good health and plenty of wealth.

Hahaha. Well, that should be nice if that ever happens.

Good guys finish last

Do good guys really finish last? Are they so forgiving and naive that they let the bad guys go first and take advantage? Are good guys stupid?

I don't know. Maybe people are naturally drawn to the naughty side. Maybe people would rather be pained than bored. Maybe they'd rather bum out than be well-supported.

People are natual born masochists.

Why would someone rather befriend a person he/she knows will be bad for her, than meet someone who can take care of her/him.

What do you think?

enneagram

Thanks for taking the test !

you chose AX - your Enneagram type is SEVEN (aka "The Enthusiast").

"I am happy and open to new things"

Adventurers are energetic, lively, and optimistic. They want to contribute to the world.

How to Get Along with Me

• Give me companionship, affection, and freedom.
• Engage with me in stimulating conversation and laughter.
• Appreciate my grand visions and listen to my stories.
• Don't try to change my style. Accept me the way I am.
• Be responsible for youself. I dislike clingy or needy people.
• Don't tell me what to do.

What I Like About Being a SEVEN

• being optimistic and not letting life's troubles get me down
• being spontaneous and free-spirited
• being outspoken and outrageous. It's part of the fun.
• being generous and trying to make the world a better place
• having the guts to take risks and to try exciting adventures
• having such varied interests and abilities

What's Hard About Being a SEVEN

• not having enough time to do all the things I want
• not completing things I start
• not being able to profit from the benefits that come from specializing; not making a commitment to a career
• having a tendency to be ungrounded; getting lost in plans or fantasies
• feeling confined when I'm in a one-to-one relationship

SEVENs as Children Often

• are action oriented and adventuresome
• drum up excitement
• prefer being with other children to being alone
• finesse their way around adults
• dream of the freedom they'll have when they grow up

SEVENs as Parents

• are often enthusiastic and generous
• want their children to be exposed to many adventures in life
• may be too busy with their own activities to be attentive

Renee Baron & Elizabeth Wagele

The Enneagram Made Easy
Discover the 9 Types of People
Harper SanFrancisco, 1994, 161 pages

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think of going on leave

I am grieving, and having an allergic rhinitis attack. I think lack of rest and sleep have been tolling on me. Don't i deserve to go on leave too? It's the best time to be on leave.

And yet, I am here doing work.

Oh well. Such is life.

Foiled

I call it fools rushing in.

It happened too fast that it just swept us both. But as days go by, I was realizing that maybe this person was after something else. To those who are close to me and in the know, they will know what I'm talking about.

I am officially stopping this madness today. And if ever there will be a second time, I'd like to start fresh. Let me share though some parts of it.

Ours was chance meeting. We met at a coffeeshop in legaspi village. The whole introduction stage was unorthodox. We got to know each other through texting only. Although both of us were physically there, we never faced each other until the first date. Every thing was smooth sailing then. We would be constant textmates and sometimes even YM-mates. But then things didn't seem right.

One was constantly needing of attention. One was independent. One just came out of a twisted relationship. The other one was waiting for the one. One was insensitive. The other one was super sensitive. But not every thing was different. Like we're in the same industry, we have common interests and beliefs and even passions in life.

But them something was not right. We're good friends, and I think nothing more can ever happen outside of that. I am looking for something else. I just won't be able to trust myself with this person.

The question that triggered me: what would you do if you know you don't like the person and the relationship's not going to work anyway? Would say goodbye already or would you want to give it a chance and see it through, who knows?

I think by asking myself this question I've already subconsciously pre-judged the outcome of this whole thing: NOT GOING TO WORK. More important, by asking this question, I really am not giving it a fighting chance, otherwise option one wouldn't have surfaced.

Shucks. Foiled.

Rediscovering The Sound of Music

I caught The Sound of Music yesterday and it was a delight watching it again. This Rodger 's and Hammerstein's classic is celebrating its 40th year this year.

I am quite sure that you are familiar with the story.

For me, the beauty of the story is its universality. An unassuming woman infects a despotic father with her charms and passion for life.

Here is a woman who came to the Von Trapp household with nothing but an infectious smile and a guitar. She leaves Vienna with a family of 7 and a captain for a husband.

I really liked the part where she and the captain were singing inside the gazebo, feeling young and awkward and Julie Andrews singing, “somewhere in my childhood, I must have done something right (to deserve this)”.

I almost cried when all the kids hugged her when she got back from the abbey. I almost cried when she and the captain were waltzing in front of the Von Trapp kids. Shucks. My emotions are all over the place.

I’ve never really looked at this movie this way. And every time I watch it, I learn and experience something new.

Bittersweet feelings

I want to say that this is my last trip to nostalgia but I wouldn't. It bittersweet to go back and reminisce.

Last Saturday, day one of my lolo's wake, I just couldn't take a look at my lolo. I was still in denial that he has already passed. But when the casket was finally opened for viewing, I felt really sad with what i saw. I still see the same old man I used to see, only this time he was deep in slumber. My little cousin kept calling for his lolo and when he didn't get any response, he went to his mom and asked, "Why isn't Angkong answering? Mommy, why is he sleeping here?"

My aunt responded, "He is resting, now go on outside. Angkong doesn't want to be disturbed." The tyke still kept calling for him...

I remember, my lolo was hard to hear. He always exclaimed, "Haaaah! (in ascending tone)" whenever we talked to him. He will also be my mom's wake up call. Now all that is gone.

Anyway, if for anything, our estranged cousins in Baguio came to visit him. I felt awkward and good at the same time to see them. Last time I saw them was when I was just 5 years old. i didn't even know that the name of the youngest in teh family was Rianne. Shucks.

Well, I am in the office now since there are a lot of work to be done. I will go back to the wake later after I finish.

PS: It's just me lang pala who's calling my Baguio cousins estranged. Maybe i should say cousins in Baguio, period. hehe

Goodbye Angkong.

Someone smart identified once the most stressful events in human life. This list would include is resigning from work, moving to a new job, unexecpted death in the family, debt-collection and tragedies. I am not too sure if this was actual list, but I do recall these 5 things in his list.

Last night I had to leave office early because I had another round of viewing/editing at GMA with a client. Client was good enough to just pick me up and go together to GMA. He was with his fiancee. They looked sweet and lovey-dovey nice. I was so pleased to see them together.

About 7:30 PM, as soon as I finished talking to Emma, my brother was on the other line. As always, I was thinking to myself, did I do anything wrong? So I hesitantly answered the phone and he had his mono tone asking me where I was. And I said I was on my way to GMA. He said, I should be heading home soon. And I asked why? What's wrong? He said, "Didn't you hear? Angkong (grandfather in Chinese) passed away. He just passed away now. Come home soonest."

I was shocked. I wanted to sit back and cry. But I was torn. I have to be strong and rational about this. I still have work to be done, and I need to attend it first.

I didn't show any emotion until we finished. Client was gracious enough, having overheard some conversation, to ask if they could do anything... offered his driver to take me to the hospital. Gee, thanks. That's such a gesture! But I didn't tell him that there was death in the family. I just said I have a family emergency I have to go to after we view. I didn't want to ruin their moment as a couple together.

My lolo is a brave soul. He is a tall man, with loud commanding voice. When he speaks. he speaks with authority. That's why we called him, as a child, Hitler - he was such a dictator. He would always say that I was his favorite (hmm, come to think of it, I was most grand parent's favorite :)) and that he'd really want to see me settle down soon and all. He would always say that he was proud of me and that he misses me because I never to get to see him anymore.

In the last few weeks, I was hardly ever available to see him. I wished I visited him days ago but there's just too much work. Last weekend, he was confined in Chinese General Hospital because he had been complaining about his chest pains and difficulty in breathing. After the battery of tests were done, the doctor gave him clearance of good health and so he was released last tuesday. Before he left, the doctor gave him a carotene test (or something, it was a blur last night after all the crying). He said my lolo got too beat up from that test. Cut to last night, he suddenly felt ill again.

The maids noticed that he peed involuntarily, he dumped uncontrallably, he was getting patches of blue-black marks in his body, and was wheezing. So they decided to take him to the Emergency Room. While he was being assisted to the car, he was already shaking. Cardiac Arrest.

By 7:30PM, he was pronounced dead.

My lolo would always say he wouldn't want to put his family in so much agony if and when he passes. He passed quietly and hopefully, he didn't have to go through too much pain.

I will miss my lolo for all the kick-ass experience and unsolicited advice he gave me growing up. He was old man gimmick-meister in Baguio every Summer before. He took me tomy first American Lunch, Bike Ride, Talking Puppet (Siwsiw) and how can I forget my first fake GI Joe.

I surely regret that I wasn't able to visit him before he passed. I am saddened by this whole experience. To top it all, as if work has not been stressful enough, I had to have this.

I am not complaining. God has a reason for this. God doesn't do anything without a reason. It's not destiny, God has a reason.

His remains lie at Sanctuarim in Araneta Avenue, beside Jollibee. I will be in Magnolia Room from now till Friday.

Sob.

RTF again - commercial lang

Don't forget to watch out for them this sunday after SOP.

Sorry, if i'm using this as a commercial site :(

They've had their first taste of entertainment fame yesterday. A presscon was called to introduce the 12 to the writers. If it were any indication, the press reacted positively as some of them said that this bunch is definitely smarter than Starstruck contestants.

And they had long interviews too. I just hope no one asked about the softdrink question again. Ouch.

Anyway, it's showing this sunday, and i hope you guys will enjoy it.

Confused Public Service Definition

I am greatly confused. Is the public transport system a public service or not? In other countries, their governments put so much subsidy and aid to ease up the public transport system. Like in Thailand, a few years ago, it was one of the most notorious countries that has the worst traffic system in the world. But the Thai government being efficient that they are built new infrastructure- this provided its citizens with accessible public transport. In Singapore, they have put public transport schemes to avoid traffic in the city-state.

Here in this country, it seems that the transport system has become a private interest. I will not go macro with the issue on privatization of government assets and all because that will require a different blog entry altogether. I will just keep my beef on the cabs, jeepneys and buses.

The vehicle is not the problem. It’s the driver who’s driving it and the system it revolves in. Our cab system here is probably one of the fakest. Of late, you will see a lot of car models running as cabs especially in Makati. Sure, I mean these cars are really lovely and comfortable but as soon as you step inside (if you’re lucky enough), you will encounter the saddest experience of your life.

Cab drivers have their own sob stories. They are drama queens (or kings) that will put on the drama just to scour money from the passenger. I’m sure that you have encountered at least once from the following “drama schemes” of the annoying cab drivers.

1. Malayo ang pupuntahan mo! Pwede bang humingi ng additional xx pesos.

It escapes me why these drivers have to ask for more money aside from what’s indicated on the fare meter. If the place I was going was very near me, then I wouldn’t have taken his cab, no more, yes?

2. May susunduin pa ko eh (this after stopping and asking you where you’re going)

If you were intent to pick up the passenger you promised to pick up, why on Earth are you still stopping and asking me where I am going? Of all the greedy people, in the world, are you really darn sure that from among the hundreds of people waiting in the street, will someone will really go your way??? C’mon! What sucks more is that we have to pay additional P50 to ask a cab company to pick you up!

3. Ma-traffic ayoko.

Outright, no nothing, no lying- just the plain truth. He just refuses to do the work he does. Just think if we can really just tell our clients this outright, “Ayokong gawin, mahirap yan!”

4. I ask for additional P100. (why?) because there’s no pasahero in that area. (Wala namang pasahero pagdating mo dun. Pahingi na lang ng additional P100.)

Okay, maybe because I’m Chinese and these cab drivers felt that they have struck a gold pot. Maybe their thinking I can’t speak Filipino or something. But are they really thinking that I’m stupid enough to fall for this trick!? I answered back, “hindi ko problema kung may pasaherong naghinhintay duon o wala. Trabaho mo’ng ihatid sa pupuntahan ko. At babayaran kita ng tama. Trabaho mong maghanap ng pasehero at magbabayad sila ng tama.” To which he said, ”additonal lang naman eh"

Feel free to add more. (i don't have enough time to finish this)

Hitting the Gym, Panting

I think I’ve waited for too many a night to get back to the gym. I’ve been anticipating my return for weeks now since I’ve gained considerable amount of weight and fats in areas where it shouldn’t be. I never quitted going to the gym; it’s just that I never had the time to really go and work out. I’ve had several opportunities that I could go but unfortunately I was either too tired or had other engagements. Much as I want to prioritize it, I just couldn’t get myself to the gym again. Something has been stopping me from going. Maybe it’s the fact that I haven’t gone to the gym in like months now and I really don’t know what to do anymore, or maybe because I’ve gotten used to it. Or was it just mere procrastination from my end. Knowing that I wouldn’t lose all the unnecessary pounds anyway in one night is enough to convince me to not go anymore. It’s such a lousy excuse I know, but a really effective one.

Now that I’m trying to pinch some pennies, I have come to realize that maybe I should cut my gym expense. You see, I’m paying a significant amount of money for gym. If I cut that out, I’ve already saved more than two thousand pesos outright. Not too mention all the miscellaneous expenses one gets from going. But I also know that I should be losing weight. My body and consciousness have been looking for working out. In a stressful job like mine, it’s really nice that I have something to look forward too aside from deadlines and weekends. Also it’s a good way to relieve some stress.

All in all, I decided not to cut back gym. Instead, I will cut back on other expenses by hitting the gym instead. So instead of eating out or watching a movie, I will just hit the gym and eat little, then go home straight. Nice idea. Hope it works though.

Anyway, I went back today. I had a most convenient reason to go today. I will be off from work early today and so I can go. Further, it’s very near my home. And so I went. With gusto, sheer excitement and fondness, I went. Unfortunately, by the twentieth minute I was already gasping and panting to save my sanity.

I was ssooo out of shape. I used to do three hours worth of cardio, now after the twentieth erratic and inconsistent work, I couldn’t do another step. It such a frustration.

Sabagay, what do I expect? After having not gone to the gym like forever, I really wouldn’t be on tip top shape.

I guess my next step is raod to recovery. I will make it happen and get back to shape. I will regain my lost biceps. I will regain my chest and triceps. I will regain the pounds, ehek, lose the pounds.

In the meantime, what else does one do when they get frustrated? Eat! I am eating a hefty serving of AMERICAN BURGER, with fries and my favorite iced tea! This is the best way to recovery!

PS: no wonder I’ve been dateless for months now.