lemon grass

Early Friday morning I received a text from Sab asking for a lunchout tutal sweldo naman. Kaya kahit na may baon ako hala sige pa rin. Ginawa ko na lang syang breakfast sayang eh! hehe. So ayun Megamall pa rin sa Lemon Grass. Anlaki ng servings. Sana nag extra rice na lang ako then nakishare sa pagkain nila. Pero sulit naman kasi malaki nga servings at masarap. Mucho delicioso! Muy bien! At ang pinakamasarap syempre yung libreng dessert courtesy of Brini. Cappuccino ice cream sa Fiorgelato. At syempre nakakuha ng extra scoop si sab nung sinabi namin na birthday nya! Aysus! Haha...

g-liner

Yesterday was Thursday and it only means one thing...St. Jude! Been attending the novena and mass since March. Although I've been missing some Thursdays due to work load, I made it a point to attend the mass whenever I have the chance.

So yesterday, even if I was on sick leave, I still made my way to Mendiola. I was able to catch the 7pm mass. To cut the story short, after one and a half hours of mass and novena and dinner at Tropical Hut (yeah I've been wanting to eat there for the longest time since it has been years since I tried their burgers) plus an ice cream from Ministop, I was on my way home. So I hailed the next G-Liner bus going to Taytay. I'll be dropping off at Agora in San Juan and take the tryk to our place.

So while inside the bus, I was still finishing my ice cream while watching Mga Mata Ni Anghelita (yeah most buses prefer Kapuso instead of Kapamilya and it sucks!). Then there was a commotion. Kala ko nag-aaway lang yung mag-asawa sa likod ko. Then I overheard the word holdap! So I was kinda alarmed. Out of instinct I hurriedly took out my phone, which was fortunately on silent mode since I just came from mass, and dropped it under my seat. Then I brought out my wallet and left it on my lap. The reason why I did that was I don't want those hold-uppers to check on my pockets anymore. For me it would be more traumatic if they touched me. They can just take my wallet and leave me alone.

Then one of the two hold-uppers sat beside me. But he was ordering the guy on the opposite seat to open up his bag for his phone. All that time his back was facing me, and there I was still eating my ice cream, trying hard to be calm so as not to attract any attention. Siguro naisip nung hold-upper na wala akong pera so waste of time lang hehe. They seemed amateurs since medyo magulo yung set-up nila. They weren't even sure where to drop off. And then they did just before the bus reached Nagtahan bridge infront of Arellano University.

Right after they went off, that's the only time I felt myself shiver. Nanginginig tuhod ko. Pero inubos ko pa rin ice cream ko. Then I got my phone under my seat after reassuring myself na wala silang naiwan na kasama. The guy opposite my seat with the big bag even smiled at me when he saw what I did with my phone. Then I got my wallet that was still on my lap. Ang galing coz naipit ko pala sa wallet ko yung St. Jude novena. So I felt that St. Jude guided me during that traumatic time. So medyo nagkagulo na sa bus after. We went straight to the next police station to have the incident blottered. I think they got four phones.

Swerte pa rin nung isang matanda kasi phone lang nakuha sa kanya. Presence of mind din yung ginawa nya na yung envelope containing her money eh sinilid nya dun sa Jollibee na tinake-out nya. She showed the amount to us and talagang bundle sya na tig-1000 and 500. I even told her na magpa-escort na lang sya pauwi sa mga pulis kasi baka mabiktima ulit sya.

Just a night before, naholdap din sa jeep at the same area yung friend ko. Buti na lang wala din nakuha sa kanya since yung phone nya nakalagay sa ipod pocket ng nike backpack nya.

LESSONS LEARNT:

• You can never be sure pag magcocommute ka. May it be bus (which I thought was the safest), FX, jeepney, or even cab. Wala nang sinasanto ang masasamang loob ngayon.
• And when that experience happens, stay calm. And try not to attract too much attention. Kalaban kasi nila yung oras so hindi rin nila magagalaw lahat. So yung mga noticeable yung napapansin nila. And pag calm ka, mas nakakapagisip ka kung ano dapat gawin.
• Always turn your phones to silent mode (thanks Rai!). I can't imagine what will happen if biglang tumunog phone ko during that time.
• Kung maiiwasan, wag na lang magpagabi. Or just like what my friends, Carissa and Sab, are doing, they're contacting their trusted cab driver. Of course with an additional cost. At least safe ka!
• And always pray!

no reservations

Last night I was able to attend the premiere of No Reservations at the Robinson's Galleria Movieworld sponsored by Mellow 94.7 and Unilever Food Solutions. It starred Catherine Zeta-Jones (was never a fan of her not until last night) and a certain Aaron Eckhart (not familiar though). A feel good movie that would make you fall in love...with food! This made me want to pursue Culinary Arts (in my dreams!). Too bad I wasn't able to win any of the prizes. Damn! Sayang yung P1000 GC sa Rustan's!

can you park this car?

May bago kaming game na pinagkaguluhan dito sa office after Bounce. At medyo hindi ako nahirapan. Buti na lang magaling ako magdrive! Nyahaha. And akin ang record ngayon. Beat that!

Download the game HERE.

rock on UP! rock on!

continuation...




AdU Pep

• AdU has been known for copying routines from different schools and mixing them ala-chopsuey but perfecting their executions
• but this year, they have proven that they have improved, especially incorporating their trademark carousel which they first showcased during last year's competition
• but I'm not a fan of their costume this year, not good in the eyes
• some routines were still recycled from previous years
• my verdict: 5th place

UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe

• in previous years, UST SDT has proven that they are among the best when it comes to Philippine cheerdancing (though 2005 is still being disputed by the UP camp due to the cheating of scores by that UST judge)
• but this year, in my opinion, their performance was way below Gawi level
• they were like amateurs on the floor, not to mention that fall from the initial pyramid. It was so un-Gawi like since they were known to have one of the most sturdy pyramids among the other schools
• their costume was really i-dont-know-how-to-describe-it not until one of my friends told me that it was a bumblebee theme. OK!!! But I wasn't able to see the relevance of it in their routine. Or maybe they were just used to cover those drastic retro wigs. I just wished they covered it all throughout. In comparison with the wigs used by DLSU, this was by far hideous!
• I dunno what happened but there was no WOW in this year's performance. Sobrang layo sa perfect performance nila last year and those of 2002-2004
• nagka-issue pa during the awardings. We were really surprised na 2nd pa sila. Ang mas nakapagtataka pa eh 0.5 lang ang lamang ng UP? Now that's magic! I hope the judges can justify their scores kasi kung ganyan ng ganyan lang eh baka mawalan na ng gana sumali yung ibang teams
• UP, UST, and FEU are not just the teams competing here. Sana maayos na yung scoring system nila pati na yung choice of judges para maiwasan nang maulit yung dayaan nung 2005 and ngayong 2007.
• I heard a rumor na nagka-issue pa yung mga judges dahil sa final tally nila eh biglang 1st ang UST. Hindi makapaniwala yung mga judges so they rechecked the individual tally sheets then found out na yung score na 88 eh ginawang 83. Naman naman, pang COMELEC lang yang mga hokus pokus na yan! Change the scoring system!!!
• my verdict: 4th place

UE Pep

• natawa talaga ako sa costume nila. Aerobics ba tong event na napuntahan ko? Ok na sana kung inayos nila yung design then inalis yung headband. Para kasing nagjogging lang sa labas ng Araneta then biglang nahatak.
• their performance was OK pero kulang pa rin ng impact
• sayang kasi ang lively ng audience and thumbs up ako sa drummers nila
• actually walang recall sakin yung performance nila kaya wala akong masabi dito hehe unlike nung previous years na napaWOW talaga ako dun sa umbrella effect ng Non-Stop cheer nila pati na yung parang sa racetrack na routine. Yun ang ASTIG!
• my verdict: 6th place

ADMU Blue Babble Battalion

• this squad has been, by far, the most improved team in this year's competition. Napatulala talaga ako sa performance nila.
• costume was way better than previous years, pyramids were more stable, routines overall were stronger at mas may impact. Hindi na sila parang taga That's Entertainment
• alongside FEU, sa ADMU ako kinabahan din. Sabi ko sigurado nang pasok sila sa Top 3...pero may magic eh so naging 4th sila. Sayang talaga.
• sana rin lang mas ma-appreciate ng Ateneo community ang Pep nila and suportahan nila gaya ng ginagawa nila sa basketball team nila. Nakakaawa kasi yung crowd eh. Konti pa rin kaya nalulunod sila sa ingay ng UP, UST, and FEU.
• I was really laughing when I saw the ANIMO ATENEO banner. Sobrang pang-asar sa DLSU. Then I've read an email na sila pala unang gumamit ng Animo. Lusot!
• hopefully by next year eh makapasok na sila sa Top 3. I wish them luck. Go Katips!
• my verdict: 3rd place

Gawi: gracious losers?

You may find this pic funny...

If you're from UST!

But I'm from UP!!!

And I was fuming mad seeing my school getting ridiculed by less worthy people! Not to mention what they were doing with the pose. The L finger I could manage, but the dirty finger?! That was way below the line. Even below sea level!

FYI: The pic was taken during the 2007 UAAP Opening. Taken just outside the UP Pep Squad locker room. And the five guys were from the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe.

Really royal and pontifical!!!

rock on UP! rock on!

At long last tapos na rin ang paghihintay! The true winners were crowned! Hindi na naulit (although muntik muntikan na) yung dayaang nangyari nung 2005!!! And I was there. I was in Araneta when it happened. Ang masasabi ko lang...

UP PEP deserves the Championship.

UP Rock On!

Syempre hindi ako papahuli sa reviews...

DLSU Pep

• astig yung green afro wig turned pompoms
• sabi nga nung iba, La Salle lang yung may right to use the Papaya song since Edu is an alumnus
• sayang yung routine kasi dun pa sila pumalpak sa mga simpleng tosses, pyramids and tumbles
• they should review their spelling hehe...pangit kasi na pati spelling ng sarili mong school eh mali although baka dahil sa pressure na din sa time
• astig sana yung props nung green banner na nilatag sa sahig kaso distorted yung logo...sayang talaga
• my verdict: 8th place

UP Pep Squad

• need I elaborate more?! hehe...truly deserving
• entrance pa lang astig na... "matatapang, matatalino, walang takot kahit kanino", "hinding hindi magpapahuli", "ganyan kaming mga taga UP"
• the rock theme was really consistent...costume, attitude, sounds, overall performance... UP ROCKS!
• astig yung scorpion king...sayang lang sa likod sya nilagay kaya hindi napansin ng ibang audience pero astig talaga. I'm sure next year bubuhatin na rin yung mga guys ng ibang schools. UP truly sets the trend!!!
• kinilabutan ako sa oblation routine. Made me even prouder of being an Isko!
• tama yung nabasa ko sa isang article sa Inquirer last September 12, message to their supporters: "we want to show our supporters a routine that should lay to rest any doubts as to who the winner should be."
• medyo questionable lang yung lapit ng score ng UST sa UP considering na below Gawi level yung performance nila. sabi nga ni Hajji Alejandro...Nakapagtataka
• my verdict: Champion

FEU Cheering Squad

• fantastic routine matched with near-flawless performance
• astig na pyramid na ginaya daw sa Gawi na pyramid nung 90's. eh sino bang hindi nanggagaya nowadays?!
• sabi nila, parang taga El Shaddai daw yung crowd with matching wave ng panyo. sabi ko naman...Vilmanians lang yan!
• all in all, sa FEU talaga ako kinabahan. Though I know and I believe that UP Pep has won it already, but history shows us that no one can be 100% sure in the UAAP Cheerdance lalo na kung may mga marurumi maglaro. "bato bato sa langit ang tamaan taga Espanya!"
• my verdict: 2nd place

NU Pep Squad

• all I can say is that NU has the biggest heart amongst the UAAP teams. Rationale: NU may be minute in comparison to the rest of the squads, few support coming from their alumni and from their school, but still they perform with all their might
• NU truly has nothing to lose but everything to gain, that makes their performance enjoyable in my opinion. They don't care about the competition. All that matters is that they may be able to show their school pride through dancing.
• I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt. From the article that I've read in Inquirer, they were prepared prior to the competition not until they were told that HS students were not allowed to represent the school. Too bad for the 7 HS students who have already practised the routines, and worse for the squad which has no time to look for replacements. That explains why there were only 17 of them dancing in Araneta.
• my verdict: 7th place

to be continued...

emotionally stressed

stressed out

I have never been stressed out like this before. It's as if wala na akong nagawang tama. This past week patong patong na lahat ng problema! GRRRR...

Tried retail therapy pero wala akong magustuhang jeans under P2000! Buti na lang andyan lang parati ang Starbucks. Pero hindi rin eh. After finishing up my macchiato eh andun pa rin ang problema! Ano ba ang uunahin ko!?! Demmit!

SAS vs SPSS

• ipagpilitan ba kasi ang SPSS eh mas gamay namin ang SAS, eh kami naman ang gagamit
• not to mention na most professors sa UP eh SAS gamit! pano kaya kami makakapagconsult nun
• suko na ako! suko na ako!

Sampling Proposal

• explain before you complain!!!
• maghanap ng diamond sa Sahara desert
• tanginang census yan! laking tulong nyo! sayang lang pinapasweldo senyo!

Refresher

• how can you lend a hand dun sa mga hindi interesado
• i wanna share my knowledge, but how???
• i'm tired

MORES

• ano ulit yun?
• kaya mo na yan mitch

Norms Database

• among the rest, dito lang ako nakakakita ng liwanag
• follow the light

Stat 226

• huwaattt?! nagklase na?!
• gudlak sa paper
• gudlak sa grade

Konting tiis pa caloi. Konti na lang...

an open letter from joe d mango

Was blog-hopping when I read this article which was originally written by Joe D Mango himself. It turned out that no one's really perfect when it comes to relationships. A very nice read. Be inspired!

Three fridays ago, our guru on relationships, joe d mango, read a letter to his wife on his popular radio program Love Notes. For the past 11 years, he had been giving advice to people who would write him letters about their personal problems. To the surprise of his listeners that friday, instead of reading one of his usual letters, he read one that he had written himself to his wife Bing. Joe felt that he had to tell his listeners that even someone like him could go through a marital crisis, but that he survived it. Here's how his letter goes.

In our 11 years of marriage it was just the two of us. I never had a close circle of friends and she never had one either. Life for us was just "you and me," day in and day out. We were literally sleeping beside each other for 11 years. It came to a point that there was nothing more interesting to talk about. I was aware I was doing that but I never did anything about it. We were so close yet it seemed like we were so distant. Then came her new circle of friends.

They recently had an elementary and high school reunion. Remember her persistent suitor since elementary days? He was there. We already had four daughters and the guy had four kids of his own. They exchanged phone numbers. They started to text each other and this bothered me. A big part of it was insecurity and other part was that she once denied that she was texting the guy.

I felt bad because she started hiding things from me. Then the guy asked her if they could meet for lunch. It became a source of tension between us. I finally agreed, but before that, I told her that I felt that I was going through the same pain again. I have seen so many stories like this. If you told me the first part of the story I would already know where it would lead to.

Bing accused me of being a "know-it-all" person. But deep in my heart I knew where she was heading. Why would a married guy see a married girl unless it was for business or professional reasons? Finally, even if it was against my will, I drove her to the meeting place.

While I was waiting at the radio station, I wanted to call her but knew it wasn't proper. So I just waited for her to tell me how their meeting went. When she related to me what happened I felt that she was keeping the other details. I was afraid to ask because I wasn't prepared to accept her answers. I told her that it would be best if that was their last meeting. She got mad and told me that I was starting to control her life.

The following day, I saw a small, torn piece of paper that had the words, "lose you" in the trash can at home. I started picking up the pieces of paper and putting them together. She had written: "Felt sad because I felt that this will be our last meeting." "Wanted to hug you..." Before I could figure out what the third one was, Bing was already at my back. She wanted to get the torn pieces of paper back. She said it was private property. We decided to talk. By then, I was able to figure out the third line: "Not sure if afraid to lose you." She had crossed it out and beside it, she had written, "Wanted to cry." That was what hit me.

How could you lose something that's not even with you yet? That was a confirmation that she was getting emotionally attached to the guy. We fought because she didn't want to admit it. She said that what she had written was all about friendship and not about love.

For the first time in our marriage she asked for freedom from me. For 11 years we were always together, and now this. She had discovered her own little world and wanted to explore it. I didn't want to give it to her but finally I gave in. I told her that she could do anything she wanted and not worry about how I would feel. In fact, I told her that I was planning to leave her and the kids for a while so we could give each other the chance to be alone. We decided to give the new arrangement a try.

The following day, Thursday, I went to work early and she texted me. I never answered back. When I didn't respond, she called me. She said, "I'm sorry. I love you and I miss you." For the first time in our mariage I said, "I love you and I miss you too" with tears in my eyes. I realized how much I loved her but I also knew how much she wanted her freedom. When I arrived at the station I asked for a leave. My boss advised me to think it over, but he said that he would allow me to be on leave. After letting it all out I felt relieved. It was the first time in my life that I asked for advice about our relationship.

While I was talking with my boss, a messenger arrived with 12 white roses arranged in a basket. It came from Bing. Then a text message on my cellphone came, "I know that no material things can ease the pain that you're feeling right now, but these flowers signify my pure and sincere intentions. I'm really sorry. Please forgive me."

Still, a question continued to bug me: "I'm giving you the freedom. Will you choose to stay or go on?" I read the card, and it had the answer to my question:

"Dear Dad, I finally realized that I made a very big mistake in choosing a new found friendship at the expense of our long-time friendship. Please forgive me. I wil always love you."

Bing called the guy and told him that she wanted to end the friendship. He said that they could just text or call each other. Bing said that there was no need. We had dinner and talked up to 1am. It was like getting married all over again. We lost each other and found our way back. I do not want to go through the same pain again.

Friday came and it was the first time in the history of Love Notes that I couldn't do Love Notes. I scheduled a replay. When I was at the station at 9am, I composed a letter to Bing. I was asking myself, should I read this or do a replay? I chose to read the letter.

It is not unusual to hear people say "I love you because...," but this story has shown us that the deeper and greater love is having to say "I LOVE YOU IN SPITE OF..."

lunch @ french baker

French Baker SM Bridgeway

• with my Ortigas lunch buddies Sab and Locs
• sorry late ako pano na-hotseat kami sa Operations meeting. Lintek na SAS license yan
• bitin ang pasta! sana nag rice na lang ako
• kelan sunod na lunchout? Shang naman puro na lang mega lugi ako!
• carsha, other berks, lunchout naman! hehehe

welcome baby jam

Welcome to the world!!!

Baby Julia Marie

Born: September 2, 2007 (6:20pm)

Weight: 6.5 lbs

premiere ish

my very first post... nice...




Coco Rama Shangri-La

• ako: sa mura lang tayo... wala pang sweldo!
• sab: sige
• ako: eh magkano ba mura sayo?
• char: P250 and below
• ako: nakngteteng!

Starbucks Shangri-La 6th Floor

• salamat Paul sa libreng frappe!

Bagaberde Pasig

• salamat ulit Paul sa libreng SanMig Light at pulutan. sa uulitin.
• became a "fan" of Freestyle
• gig sched: September 7, Bagaberde Pasig

Starbucks Metrowalk

• kape pa ulit
• salamat ulit Paul sa ride. nakakarami ka na. hehehe

Sarap ng feeling na makasama ko ulit kayo sa gimik. Miss the BeRKS! achuchu...