Tuesday, March 2, 2010

It's worth it (a text message for me)

Sent: 0001H 03/02/2010

I love you pea... ^^

I'm sorry if i always cause u delay.. I'm sorry if i always eat much of your time.. I'm sorry if i ask too much favor from u.. I'm sorry for giving u headache when parking the van... I'm sorry for adding up to your responsibilities........

Thank you for making life easier for me. Thank you for keeping me companied, thank you for understnding my complexitis.. Thank you for being such a great man for me.. Ur the best... I love everything about you............ ^^

________

And i love her too. :)

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Day of Pleasant Surprises

November 10, 2009- Today is a day of pleasant surprises for me. I spent the whole day doing nothing and so I tried to invite some of my friends to my house.
Unfortunately for me, Ellaine and Jen were not able to come. Jen, because she was shopping for her trolley, and Ellaine, who was not replying to my messages. Rome, on the other hand, didn't text me the whole afternoon. So I was not expecting anyone.

That made me decide to just bring my sister to church. Then as I was pulling out of the driveway there was an annoying red Honda Civic who i thought seemed to not know where to go. I was about to blow my top when the car pulled alongside my van and lo and behold there was Ellaine who tried to surprise me. She was the one surprised because I was leaving. We ended up hanging out in Ortigas Center with Nick. We had a nice talk then we had to go our separate ways.

As I was getting gas, Rome called me and asked where I was. To my surprise she was waiting for me. What made it even more surprising was she had something for me- a book about the lost pilot Amelia Earheart. I was touched and it made me really happy.

Yun lang. :-)

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Spur of the Moment is the Best Policy

On September 7, we finished our training and we all thought that we would start right away. But no! I was running out of cash and the only way that I saw to earn some cash was to go to the States. When I learned on Sept 14 that it was still light years before we start our work, I thought of it. On the 15th, I called up our office to inform them and they told me that I should be back by October so off I went on the 16th.



It was funny because I really did not have any cash with me anymore. I only had 50 pesos left that day. While I was packing, I had this conversation with my dad:



Papa: O pupunta ka na sa States mamaya.

Me: (Big Smile)

Papa: May pera ka ba? May dollars ka ba?

Me: (Smile disappears) Wala eh.

Papa: Puny3tuh ka. Pupunta ka dun na wala kang pera? (Rummages through his drawer, then pulls out some dollars) Ito lang ang dollars ko. Bahala ka sa buhay mo. Hindi mo kagad sinabi bago nagsara ang bangko.

Me: Twenty-five dollars? Thank you. Sorry.



So off we went to the airport. After eating dinner, we had another conversation:



Papa: So may pambayad ka bang P750 para sa terminal fee?

Me: (Sheepish smile in place) Nasa wallet mo pa, pa.

Papa: Puny3tuh ka talaga. (Then pulls out P750)

Me: Bye! See you in October! (Smile in place)



At least during the flight I forgot that I was poor because I was seated in Business Class, care of our Philippine Airlines benefit. I was excited because it had the refurbished cabin, which means that the entertainment system is AVOD, or Audio-Video on Demand. I had a great meal, a great seat at the upper deck (RP-C7472 Seat 15A, exit row), and a great bumpy flight.



When I arrived in LAX, I was dreading that the Immigration officer would ask me how much money I brought. He did ask me that.



IO: So are you employed?

Me: Yes I'm going to start working on October.

IO: Are they paying you already?

Me: Not yet.

IO: Then you're not employed.

Me: Okay.

IO: How much cash did you bring?

Me: Just under a hundred bucks

IO: You're staying here for two weeks with a hundred bucks???

Me: Ah-- eh-- I'm staying with my relatives. They will pay for my stay here.



After this he got my biometrics and let me proceed to the baggage claim area. I heaved a sigh of relief. That was close. That officer was neither welcoming nor courteous, like the ideal characteristics described in the Immigration poster.



I just spent the entire two weeks doing things that I could have done here-- except that the cash flow was towards me and not away from me. :-)



This is what I wrote during our tech stop in Honolulu :



Aboard Philippine Airlines Flight PR103 bound for Manila. PR 103 is a very gloomy flight because from take-off in LAX to landing in MNL it is nighttime. The only plus factor in this flight is that they let us keep our window shades up throughout the flight. Meal service started soon after the fasten seatbelt sign was switched off. We started with the mixed tapas, which is Balik Salmon with Pickled Cucumber and Ginger Melon Balls with Mint Citrus Zest. For our appetizer, there was a choice of hot or cold and the flight attendant suggested the hot appetizer, Seafood Newburgh but unfortunately I am allergic to shrimp so I took the cold one. Foie Gras with Quince Paste and Smoked Duck medley. Lesson learned: Do not eat food that you can't even pronounce. When it was served, it looked so pretty in the plate that I had a hard time eating it. For the main dish I stuck to the basics: the Western Specialty, which was Mustard Crusted Salmon Steak Barbecue in Parsley Lemon Butter Sauce with Mashed Potato. It was all fine. Of course I drank Piper Heidsieck Brut Champagne to push all the food down (with a little help from Pepsi and H2O). For my "After Meal Delight" I was given a fresh fruit plate with Coffee Creme Brulee and of course, Haagen Dazs Ice Cream.

Then I took advantage of the Recaro seat and lay it flat for my sleeping pleasure. Before I went to sleep I watched Just for Gags, I made a music playlist, which also featured songs by Connie Talbot.

The music, the moonlight, the dim cabin interior, and the flashing of the aircraft's position lights made me realize that that flight was kinda romantic. Sadly though, there was no romance for me 35,000 feet in the air.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Jeepney: Hari nga ba talaga? by David Mejia



Ang Jeepney aka Dyip. Ito ay hango sa CJ3B jeep na gamit ng mga Amerikano noong Ikalawang Digmaang Pandaigdig. Tinagurian itong pangunahing paraan ng paglalakbay sa bansang Pilipinas. Kahit saan ka mang sulok ng bansa pumunta ay meron at meron kang makikitang dyip. Ito ay multi-purpose-- karaniwang ginagamit ito ng mga Pilipino bilang commuter trans o pampasahero(ang pinaka-karaniwang gamit); panghakot ng mga gulay, etc.; tow truck (oo, meron din nito); at marami pang iba.

Kung titignan natin, nakadikit na ang dyip sa araw-araw na gawain ng mga Pilipino. Kabilang na ito sa ating kultura. Hindi tayo makagalaw kung walang dyip. Sumasakay tayo dito kahit malapit lang ang ating pupuntahan. Napaparalisa ang iba't-ibang sektor ng lipunan kapag nagsagawa ng malawakang strike ang combined forces ng mga tsuper at operators nationwide.

Oo. Dahil kadikit na ang dyip ng ating kultura, marami ang nagsasabi na ito ay ang "hari" ng kalsada. Pero hari nga ba ito? Ang sumusunod ay ilan lamang sa mga karaniwang katangian ng mga tinaguriang "hari":

1. Ito ay walang aircon.
2. Ito ay madalas luma na. Kung bago man, parang wala ring pinagkaiba sa luma.
3. Ito ay minananeho ng mga !@#$%^ na tsuper.
4. Mausok at maingay.
5. Puro kalawang.
6. Nagsasakay at nagbababa ng mga pasahero kahit saan.
7. Nagsisiksik ng mga pasahero kahit nakalutang na ang puwet mo.
8. Hindi pare-pareho ang disenyo. Minsan mauuntog ka sa kisame nito o kaya't makikita mo ang tsuper na nakatagilid habang nagmamaneho.
9. Karaniwang hindi nakakalabas ang tsuper sa pinto na pinakamalapit sa kanya dahil nakaharang ang spare tire.
10. Karaniwang marumi ang kamay ng tsuper. Lalo pang malas kung kaka-ihi lamang nito.

At marami pang iba...

Ang tsuper naman, hihiram lang ako ng sinulat ni Ginoong Bob Ong sa kanyang aklat na pinamagatang "Bakit Baliktad Magbasa ng Libro ang mga Pilipino". Sa tingin ko ay nailarawan niya nang husto ang katangian ng mga ito.

Ah... drivers! Sinong Pinoy ba ang walang kuwento tungkol sa kanila? Sa mahabang karanasan ko bilang pasahero, eto ang mga tsuper ng Pilipinas:

BAGGAGE BOYS. Mga driver na sa pilahan pa lang ng jeep e masinop na. Pilit na sinisiksik ang mga pasahero at hindi umaandar ang sasakyan hanggang hindi nakakapagsakay ng 20 katao sa upuan na pang-14. Bukambibig: "Kasya pa, dalawa pa yan, kabilaan!"

PACMAN. Baggage Boys na matakaw sa pasahero hanggang sa highway. Walang sinasantong "No loading / Unloading" signs. Hinihintuan ang lahat ng tao na pwedeng isakay, parang video game player na nag-iipon ng points at naghahangad ng bonus. Bukambibig: "Sige, konting bilis lang ho at bawal dito bumaba"

FORMULA ONE. Mag kaskaserong piloto na nagpapalipad ng jeep. Di tulad ng Pacman, maraming pasaherong nilalagpasan ang Formula One. Para sila laging mauubusan ng lupa. Sa sobrang bilis magpatakbo, lahat ng pasahero e nakakapit nang mahigpit sa hawakang bakal. Bukambibig: (Wala. Hindi nakakausap.)

SCREWD DRIVER. Asiwa at mainit lagi ang ulo. Galit sa mga pedestrian, galit sa mga vendors, galit sa mga pasahero, galit sa mga pulis, galit sa mga kapwa driver, galit sa mundo. Sumisigaw, nagdadabog, at nagmumura bawat tatlumpung segundo. Bukambibig: "!^@%#."

KUYA BODJIE. Ang tsuper na masayahin. Laging nakangiti at sumisipol. Malugod na bumabati sa lahat ng nakakasalubong sa daan. Perpekto na sana si Kuya Bodjie kung hindi lang s'ya madalas na sanhi ng heavy traffic. Bukambibig: "Kamusta? Kamusta ang pag-aaral ng mga bata? Susundan n'yo ba ni mare si... ano nga ang pangalan ng bunso mo,pare? Ano na ang nangyari sa inaaplayan mong trabaho sa Saudi?"

SI MANONG. Matandang driver na may matandang jeeo. Yung tipong binubuo na lang ng kalawang ang sasakyan n'ya at pwedeng kakitaan ng mga itlog ng dinosaur. Madalas ring tumirik ang makina, at talo pa ang mga pabrika sa usok ng tambutso. Kadalasan naka-tune in si Manong sa AM radio at nakikipagpalitan ng kuro-kurong politikal sa katabing pasahero. Bukambibig: "Lipat na lang kayo sa kabilang jeep, nasiraan tayo."

DON FACUNDO. May hihigit pa ba kay Manong? Oo, ang matandang mahilig- si Don Facundo, ang DOM na driver! Hitik sa green jokes at mga bukambibig na: Sakay na, sexy, iuuwi na kita!" o "Konting ipit para hindi mangamoy!"

DISC JOCKEY. Ang sound-tripper tsuper. Ultimo konsensya mo hindi mo maririnig sa sobrang lakas ng stereo n'ya. Lahat ng bagay sa loob ng sasakyan e kumakalabog at kumakalansing sa tugtog. Aakalain mo ring may on-going party sa loob ng jeep dahil sa dami ng kaibigan n'yang nakaangkas. Parang naki-hitch ka lang sa pribadong sasakyan. Bukambibig: (Hindi mo maririnig sa sobrang ingay.)

THE SUPER PINOY DRIVER. Marunong sumunod sa batas trapiko. Magalang sa mga pasahero. Hindi nanlalamang sa mga kapwa driver. At ayos magpatakbo ng sasakyan. Isa lang ang problema, hindi pa s'ya pinapanganak.

Kitams? Iyan ang estado ng ating mga tinaguriang "hari" ng kalsada. Bakit ko naisulat ito?

Dati noong ako'y bata pa at nag-uumpisa pa lang sumakay sa jeep, manghang-mangha ako dito dahil ako ay nakapaglakbay nang hindi nakasakay sa pribadong sasakyan o sa taxi. Noong ako ay pumasok na sa kolehiyo ay napansin ko na parang hindi na tama na sumakay ako ng dyip. Lalo naman noong ako ay nagtrabaho na. Noon ko unang naisip na hindi naman hari ng daan ang mga dyip. Sila ay naghahari-harian lang. Halos lagi akong dugyot tuwing bumababa ako sa mga dyip. Hindi ako kumpurtable lalo na pag matindi ang sikat ng araw, pag umuulan, pag may nagyosi sa loob, pag malayo ang byahe, at pag matindi ang traffic.

Hindi ba ang katagang "hari" ay binibigay mo lang sa isang tao o bagay na nagbibigay ng prestige sa 'yo? Hindi ito dapat binibigay o binabansag sa kung anuano lamang.

Sabihin nyo na kung ako'y mayabang, pero hindi ako sang-ayon na tawagin itong hari sapagkat hindi ito nagbibigay ng kahit anong prestige o self-esteem sa akin bilang Pilipino.

Noong pinagmayabang pa ng gobyerno natin kamakailan sa Europa ang dyip, ako ay nadismaya. Kasi naman ang pinagmamayabang nila ngayon, nakita na ng buong mundo bago pa man naging pangulo ng Pilipinas si Ferdinand Marcos. Walang nagbago. Hindi maipagmamalaki.

Oo nga, meron na tayong mga "new generation" jeepneys gaya ng aircon jeep (ang Jeep ni Erap) na hindi naman halos binigyan ng suporta ng pamahalaan, at ang electric jeep na halos hindi naman makita sa ating mga kalsada.


Hangga't hindi natin naaayos ang ating transportation system ay stuck tayo sa mga dyip. Kung hindi naman tatanggalin ang mga dyip, hangga't hindi sinusuportahan ng pamahalaan ang dyip, hindi ito aasenso at puro bulok na lang na dyip ang tatambad sa atin araw-araw. Nakakalungkot ang estado ng mga dyip ngayon. Malayo na sana ang narating nito kung buo lang ang tiwala ng gobyerno natin dito.
Kung nais nating matawag ang dyip na "hari", tayo mismo ang dapat magpatunay nito. Paano natin magagawa ito? Una, dapat mag-evolve naman ang disenyo ng dyip. Nakakaawa na ang itsura nito. Parang stuck sa mid 20th century. Pangalawa, dapat suportahan ng gobyerno ang dyip kung gusto nilang ipagmalaki ito sa ibang bansa. Iwasan na ang pagsara ng mga gumagawa nito. And please, develop a good design that is apt for the 21st century. Pangatlo, sana maipanganak na ang Super Pinoy Driver as described by Bob Ong. Lastly, sana pati ang Ultimate Pinoy Passenger ay ipanganak na rin.
Ngayon, sasakay pa ba ako ng dyip kahit bulok pa ito? Oo, basta hindi lalagpas sa minimum fare yung layo ng pupuntahan ko.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Nothing like great sex!

Sabi nga ng iba, pag malungkot ka, gawin mo yung isang bagay na makapagbibigay ng saya sa iyo. Pwede kang mag meditate, uminom, mag emo or mag sex!!

Siguro nabasa nyo na yung previous blog entry ko. kung hindi pa basahin nyo muna so that you can conclude na malungkot ako kahapon.

Para mapawi ang lungkot ko, ako ay... you guessed it!! nag sex!!!

oh shux sobrang saya! first time ko this year at iba ang feeling! Malaman.... Juicy... Masarap... hindi ko maexplain ang lambot ng fresh karne... ang sarap talaga sipsipin ng katas!!! malambot talaga parang steamed tokwa! kung hindi pa kayo nagsex, now is the time to try it. hindi kayo mabibigo. pero dapat marunong kayo kumain at sumipsip at maglaro ng konti.... yum!

I think I should stop here... By this time baka iniisip ninyo na napakamanyak ko naman.

CLEAR YOUR DIRTY MINDS!

Ang tinutukoy kong sex ay Sinangag EXpress! Located ito sa President Ave BF Homes Paranaque. Masarap talaga dun at sulit na sulit sa halagang 49 pesos lang!! but wait! add 30 pesos and you will receive not only the TAPSILOG but one bowl of tokwa't baboy also!! Amazing! Dun ako kagabi. hehe..

Sunday, March 22, 2009

To my friends! Please help!!

For you guys who read my blog. Can I ask for some suggestions?

What should I do with a significant person who always just misinterprets my words and quarrels with me everytime? I chat / go to her to be happy but I end up feeling like a jerk/fool/unhappy/foolish!!!! Tapos ako lagi ang may kasalanan kahit wala naman akong ginagawang masama!!

Konting advice naman jan!!!

Thanks

Thursday, February 26, 2009



One love, one heart
Oh let’s get together now and we can feel alright
Let them all pass their dirty remarks
There is one question I’d really love to ask
Is there a place for the hopeless sinner,
Who has hurt all mankind just to save his own beliefs?

One love, one heart
Let’s get together now and we can feel alright
Let’s get together to fight this Holy Armageddon
So when the man comes
There won’t be no no doom
Have pity on those who chances grow thinner
Cause there anit no hiding place from the Father of creation

Oh one love what about the love, one heart
Oh lets get together now and we can feel alright
One love, one heart
Let’s get together now and we can feel alright
I said lets let’s get it together now
And we can feel alright

One love, one heart
O lets get together now and we can feel alright
One love what about the love, one heart
Let’s get together now and we can feel alright
I said lets get together we’re gonna fell alright
I said lets lets get it together now and we can feel alright

Stupid

Lesson learned today:

Stupid choices lead to stupid situations.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

2nd musical discovery - Marie Digby

very cute...

Alyssa Bernal - first 2008 discovery

Yeah, you may have seen her in my past blog entries and probably my friendster account. well, here is another video of her-- one of the first videos of her that I watched. :)