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Friday, August 26, 2005
I am a(u)n aspiring...
Just wondering, will we live our beloved dreams 5 to 10 years from now? I am 23. Quite young. If I may recall, my ambition was to be a doctor as per my high school yearbook stated. I took a science course and got my degree, as the saying goes, with flying colors. I am not saying that graduating from that course was useless since my job now is not related to science at all. Really, really not related to it. But my first job was. Hmp. Maybe, it is related. I am dealing with the science of life. Uhm, biology? Not really. Science of dealing with life and with an organism who has life, a person. Galing ko bang magpalusot?Well, it has been two days since I've been thinking about my elementary and high school classmates. No, I am not on a senti mode of missing them. I've said, "classmates," not friends. I didn't make a number of friends back then. I've always thought that I am not part of the "in" crowd during those years. Ok, this post is not all about my intrapersonal skills. On with post... I've browsed on almost all their friendster accounts to check on what they've been up to lately. Again, I am not missing them. I was just curious. Alright, I miss some but not all. Hehe! Some have their own families already. Some already have, not one but two babies. And I am thinking that we are just between 22-24 yrs old. Some already look like they have their own families but actually are single (some, since birth). Mukhang nanay at tatay na maski na dalagang-dalaga at binatang-binatan pa. Some looked like foreigners. Some in the foreign land working as "the new heroes of the country." You know what I mean. For the past 5, 8, 10 years that I haven't seen them, alot (read: A - L-O-T) of change happened and I'm sure that change is continuously happening as time passes by. I remember this particular schoolmate of mine in elementary. She was small, thin. Not the pansinin type. During our graduation rites, she tripped on the stage. Yesterday, I saw her friendster account and boom! She looked so fine. She already migrated to the US. All her pictures are taken in Vegas while partying with her chums. She looked like someone from Hawaii. She has long, brown hair, thick make up, etc. I did wonder if those kind of changes would be experienced by me once I live in a foreign land. I was asking myself if I would also change physically once I live outside this country. Another one, but this time my high school classmate. We also went to the same university during college. But the last time I heard about him was his transfer to another university, a less "popular" one, because of failing grades. I saw his friendster account and found out that he is now working in Dubai with his girlfriend. Three thoughts crossed my mind. More graduates, less job and low pay in this country. Second was that sometimes, you would find love in your least expected place. When you are not in your native land, usually you bond with people who also came from where you're from. Eventually, friendship could bloom into a romantic relationship. If this is his case, I am amazed by it. The last thought I had was money plays a big, big role to put up your family. Love only would not keep you alive. Not all of my former classmates are living that life, so to speak. Some are still jobless. Some are still in school pursuing another degree, graduate studies or med school. Some, in the same business as mine. "How am I?," I asked myself. "What am I doing with my life?" I've been all good in school. I never gave my teachers a hard time. I've been a nice classmate. I even let some copy from me during quizzes. I almost always follow the rules (except for no copying and passing groups projects on time.). Look, where it lead me. I don't know if being too good would break you. I don't know. Maybe, these classmates that I've mentioned are earning more than I am. But there's still the bummer that I am here with my friends and loved ones and they're there missing every inch of our beloved land. Or maybe not. Probably, my Phycology professor was right. He told me that I am a very nice and friendly person. A lot of opportunities are coming my way but I am just too scared to grab them and make a killing. (In one of our classes, he asked us to sign our names on a sheet of paper for our attendance taht day. I think he has some knowlegde about reading one's handwriting. After he said his take on my signature, my friend told my professor that he was right. I am passive about the things happening to me.) When I tell myself that a "little" cheating/wrong thing won't hurt, in just a few seconds, my conscience strikes faster than lightning. I have this thing with karma and other person's feelings and my values and issues about having a better life in a just way. No, I am not all good. I have my share of demonic moments. And up to date, I sin. I cuss. I swear. I break trust (Not the condom. Haha!). But I still try to be the best person I could be. Not minding if I'd get promoted or if I'd be a TOYM awardee ( lakas!). I just want to see myself being able to smile at me. But one's satisfaction is objective. I do not know if you would find it weird or something. Who doesn't need a greater pay? who doesn't need a better spot in a company. Who doesn't like a high profiled stature? Geez. Where did that come from? (FYI, I haven't applied for a promotion in my present company. I may sound bitter on this paragraph but I am not. I am just happy to realize how "power" could create a certain "chin up" attitude on some people.) I also tell myself that all sacrifices have a better deal in heaven (Hallelujiah!). But what if my soul would not end up there? O, hindeeeee. I think ambitons do materialize beyond those yearbook pages. But it doesn't necessarily follow that what you have in mind when you are 16 would be the same when you are 21. I am just surprised on what my former friends and classmates have become. I am sure that they would also be as surprised as I am when they see me. Perhaps, that long interval of not seeing each other compared to the 5-day school routine of attending the same chores together would stir the moment. Perhaps, we are getting there. We are getting old. Oh, my.
posted by Arn  at 10:40 AM
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Thursday, August 25, 2005
Quickie This photo was taken two days before our supposed trip to Vigan last month. Cy texted us and set this meeting for our supposed trip. I was the last to arrive because I came all the way from work. The talk was fast since all needed to go home early. We just set the time and date of our departure for our supposed trip. From left, Cy's friends (whom he tagged along with him because I think he was just ashamed to admit that he was too scared to gome home to Cavite on night time. Well, he came back from Dubai, that's why. Perhaps, he also has lotsa cash.Haha!) Clark; partly hidden and Mark, with a cap; Jaja; Mayk and me. Cy, btw, was the one who took this shot using his N6260. *Supposed trip. All went down to trash. 'Nuff said. *Quickie. What an interesting subject. The talk was quick since I was late. But a more exciting thing was witnessed by Mayk. He caught a couple quikie-ing (haha!) inside the restroom. Restroom of what coffee shop? I'm not saying. :p  Happy, happy birthday to the ff people: my cousins, Jade (sept 1) and Zendy (aug 26); fellow PExers and good friends Kuya Hans (today, aug 24) and Jomark (sept 6); college classmate/friend Kristine (sept 1); former teammate, Al (Sept 1); and my MOM (sept 6) and LOLA (sept 12) .
posted by Arn at 3:53 PM
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Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Another "Isip" MomentGanito talaga ko. Matanong lalo na pag ka-close ko yung kausap ko. Mahilig din akong gumawa ng mga situations na kunwari, eh andun ako sa oras na yun. Yung mga what ifs ba. Sabi nga nila, habang buhay ang tao, eh di titigil yan sa pagtuklas ng kung anuman ang gusto nilang tuklasin na karaniwan ay para sa personal satisfaction niya. Eto pang isa. There's a hild in each and everyone of us that make us always wander about things. Of course, when a person wanders, there's always a question that is popped out to be answered... to be ignored... to be answered just to find out that the answer is just another question and so on. Kaya heto. Habang kumakain ako ng tanghalian ko kanina sa RC ay may kung anung hangin (di ako nalipasan ng gutom at hinangin ang utak ko, a) ang pumasok sa ulo ko at naglaro ang mga palaisipang kasabay ng pagnguya ko ng kanin at ulam. Nawa'y maintindihan lamang ng aking mga mambabasa na hindi ito gawa ng aking malikot na isip. Ako'y isa lamang bata (ehem!) na nagtataka din naman ng madalas. 1. Ano kaya ang pakiramdam ng nasa LDR (long distance relationship)? 2. Bakit kaya pag nauna ka sa pila sa bilihan ng pagkain, eh may sisingit at sisingit pa din? Yung ready na talaga siya magturo ng ulam nya tas diretso agad dun sa bayadan. Wala man lang pasintabi. 3. Bakit pag nagpalit ka ng brand ng shampoo, eh nagkaka-dandruff ka? May adjustment period ba ang scalp to cope with the new shampoo formula? 4. Pag nangulanot ka tas pinitik mo lang, may chance kaya na pag naglakad ka, eh matatapakan mo din ang sarili mong ngotkula? 5. Bakit yung water dispenser sa kinakainan ko, eh nakasaksak naman tas may ilaw yung hot and cold pero pag kumuha ka ng tubig eh maligamgam pa din kaya kailangan mong lagyan ng yelo? 6. Malinis kaya yung kamay nung nagtiklop ng tissue dun sa kainan? 7. Sukatan ba ng tagumpay kung kaya mong higitan ang narating ng kaibigan mo? (Nakam. Seryoso.) 8. Sa tagumpay ulit, masasabi mo bang matagumpay ang isang tao kung titulado ito? Yung tipong bago mo banggitin ang first o last name, eh may Msgr o Dr o Atty muna? 9. Ano ang karaniwang "staying power" ng isang tao sa kanyang karera? 10. May future kaya ako? Yan lamang po. Bow.
posted by Arn at 4:44 PM
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Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Pinoy Big Brother
The newest reality show on TV has just officially started yesterday night. What I like about the show is the choice of participants/"housemates". Somewhat similar to Survivor and The Amazing Race where their contestants are ordinary people from all walks of life. Here are some pictures I found from the show's website. The Big Brother House  12 housemates under one roof for 100 days. No tv. No radio. No newspaper. No phone. No visitors. No contact with the outside enviroment. 27 cameras recording their every move. The Hosts   Mariel Rodriguez, Willie Revillame and Toni Gonzaga bring updates on Channel 2 while Asia Agcaoili, right, takes care of the happenings at Studio 23And of course, the center of the show, the 12 Housemates    
   
    1st row (L-R) Bob, Cass, Chx, Franzen2nd row (L-R) Jayson, JB, Jenny, Nene3rd row (L-R) Raquel, Rico, Say, Uma  Different people. Different values. Probably, different upbringing. But one thing is for sure, one of them is representing one of us. Pinoy Big Brother airs on Channel 2 (Mon-Fri, 9:30pm; Sat, around 8pm) and Studio 23 (Mon-Fri, 6:30pm) . For more information about the show, just click on the Pinoy Big Brother button on my sidebar. Btw, support my fellow Bulakenyo, Bob :p Let's see if this could justify its banner, "Ang teleserye ng totoong buhay." **plays the Pinoy Big Brother theme by Orange and Lemons on the background** * I am not telling who are my two bets to be the ultimate housemate. I have one on each gender. *To all those who make comments which sounds like that from Simon of AI, Boy of SCQ, Joey of Starstruck, Armida of Hollywood Dream or any judge from a singing or star search for that matter, please I am not here to listen to you. The world doesn't need another bitchy, sharp-sounding comments. Keep your cool on messageboards. If you don't like the show, you always have the option to switch channels or you have that "X" button on the left corner of your screen then close my page. Better yet buy a tv station that would play your favorite shows. Ok, you could roll your eyes now. * Next stop, Survivor Guatemala over at the Kabarkada channel.
posted by Arn at 1:49 PM
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Saturday, August 20, 2005
My Hump
Haha! It has been two days and still I could not get rid of this BEP song from my head. It's playing on and on and on and on. I think I am really falling for Fergie. And look. I am now on this post using the same title. My hump. Nothing naughty. I am referring to my heart. I feel so light today for strange reasons. I don't know but I miss this feeling. Worry-free. All I have is music playing in the background, a nice meal from Tropical Hut (My first to buy anything from that store.), a bag of Oishi chili crakers and tissue paper to wipe my fingers. Also, I already received my P900-performance bonus. But no way am I going to spend that to buy something. God has been so good. After almost 4 days of heart-bursting worries, I am a-ok. The only thing that made my day incomplete was the taste of Sprite Ice. Mr. vendo machine didn't load enough supply in our pantry. I've been wanting to try it since last month. Oh, well. There's always that perfect day to enjoy that ice cold beverage. Enjoyment means having good convesations to my teammates as well. You know, we have to put up each other since it's only us who are here. Hehe. But seriously, chit-chats which happened today was nice. We were joking with each other. I think the vets and newbies are already on that stage where we would know the mood of our teammate that day. It's like the barrier or the coping stage has gone by. Talks are much smoother and more personal now. Yep. This day is so suave. Though I am over my required AHT by a minute and 10 seconds. That would not ruin my day. You know how it is when you feel so relaxed one day but you worry that something bad might happen before the day closes? I think this day would be all good. Sorry. I need to me more positive. I don't know. I feel more than what I normally feel. I think I'd be having a good sleep tonight because of this. To add to my "thrilled" state, here are some things that I look forward to: 1. The TEAM is back. And they are now shown on ABS-CBN. Yes, Probe Team. I adore documentary shows. I particularly like the wisdom it leaves to its viewers. It's an eye opener. Journalists who make these kind of programs show the more "human" side of them which brings them closer to people especially to the ordinary ones. 2. Pinoy Big Brother would unveil the faces of the 12 housemates on Sunday. 3. Books from UST Publishing that I tend to buy have reasonable prices. I might ask my brother to buy one for me next week. 4. OPM songs/albums are my lastest addiction. I have a this "to buy" list. Save. Save. Save. 5. I look forward on watching the Korean series, Green Rose, during weeknights. It's not the typical high school type of romance. Also, I think why Korean or Chinese shows dubbed in Tagalog are such a hit is because of the story. It's as light as my feeling right now. Haha! Seriously, it has less violence, the characters look like dolls or cartoons (anime), the setting is beautiful, and the dubbing steals the scene, not to mention their facial expressions. Here's a screen cap of the lead actor/actress which I found somewhere in the net.  6. My mom and I are ok now. 7. Though it is still almost over two months, I am anticipating for my birthday. I said a have a list of the albums that I want to buy. So, my friends you know what to do. Should you have any questions please let me know. I didn't sound like a supervisor, didn't I? Alright, in an hour I am about to go home. And it is my rest day tomorrow and on Monday. So, to my friends who I've talked with about this thing that has bothered me, I am ok now. Thank you for your time(s) and suggestion(s). My hump is now ok. Hehe. Bye everyone. 'Til next week. Enjoy the weekend.
posted by Arn at 5:18 PM
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Friday, August 19, 2005
Uhmm Ok. I am working on a half day today. Second half lang ng shift ko yung papasukan ko which is from 3pm to 7pm. Pero andito na ko sa office before 12nn. Past 8am kami umalis ng bahay, eh. Nakarating kami dito sa Ayala ng past 9am. On our way to this certain bank, I bumped into my elementary and college friend/classmate. Nung una nga tiningnan lang ako. Tas natawa ako. Di siguro ko nakilala. Tinapik ko sa balikat. Naks. Naka-yellow long sleeves. Yuppie na si Manuel. Pagkatapik ko sa kanya, eh sinabi nya sakin na, "Sabi ko na nga ba't ikaw yan, eh. Ang haba ng buhok mo. San ka na?" Konting usap lang kasi papasok na siya. Last time ko siyang nakita, eh yung bakasyon lang ng 1st year college namin sa USTe. Nag-tranfer kasi yun ng CSB. Yun. Pumunta na kami ng bangko. Punta sa Information section. May pinatawagan samin. TUmawag naman kami. May pinapatawagang ibang number. Tumawag kami tas answering machine lang. Pero sinabi nung unang nakausap ng mommy ko na sa Binondo branch daw lahat ng files. Kaya sabi ng mommy ko na pupuntahan na lang nya dun. Sakay kami ng bus papuntang lrt. Tas lrt na lang sya papunta dun. Ako naman pasok na sa office. Pero bago ko bumalik, bumili muna ko ng shawarma. Maniwala kayo't sa hindi, second time ko pa lang kumain ng shawarma. Unang kain ko ay yung sa may mrt pa last year. Eh, nung nauso yung shawarma, eh high school pa ko nun, eh. Pero buti naman at hindi tumataas ang presyo nito. P40 pa din pag large with cheese. Yun, sakay na ako nang bus pabalik. Hindi pa ko nasiyahan. Pagkaubos ko ng shawarma, eh bumili naman ako ng pesto with garlic bread sa pantry. Solb. Ngayon nga iniisip ko kung ano na kaya ang nangyari sa nilalakad ng nanay ko. Kasi minsan kamamadali, eh natataranta yun. Pero sabi naman nya sakin na lahat ng info kukunin nya. Kaya ngayon medyo nakahinga na ko. Kasi nung Linggo pa lang talaga, iniisip ko na yan. Na-overdue na ng sobra yung cc ng nanay ko kasi, eh ang laki ng babayadan. Naisip ko na ang ipangbbayad namin, eh yung lahat ng ipon ko. Kaso nga lang wala talagang matitira. Sininod ko din yung payo nung iba kong teammates na baka naman may iba pang option kesa ibigay ko lahat ng pera ko kasi nga naman daw paano kung bigla kong kailanganin. Mas ok na nga naman kung may naitatabi ka. For the rainy days, ika nga. Sinabi ko na naman sa nanay ko na alamin yung options tas by installment ko na lang babayadan. Tutal, eh yung payroll naman namin ka-affiliate nung bangko. Kaya on line transfer ko na lang. Nun ngang Mirekules ng gabi, eh nagbigay ako ng sulat sa nanay ko. Basta sinabi ko dun yung mga gusto kong sabihin. Alam nyo naman siguro yung pakiramdam na yung anak tas may gustong ipaabot sa magulang tas di magawa ng harapan kasi nakakaiyak. Madramang tagpo kaya wag na lang. Tas mahinahon naman kaming nag-uusap ng nanay ko. Kanina nga nung nag-aabang kami ng bus papaluwas, sinabi nga nya sakin na di naman nya ginamit yung card pang-shopping. Nag-cash advance daw sya ng isang beses nung kelangang magbayad ng tuition dati. Kinuwento din nya sakin na magmula nung nging private yung bangko na pinagtrbahuhan nya, hindi na daw tumaas yung sweldo nila. Nung nasa gov't pa daw sila, tumataas daw ng P1,000 per year yung sweldo. Pero naiba na daw. Biruin nyo, more than 25 yrs nanay ko dun, a. Tas yung di na tumaas ang sweldo 11yrs ago after she resinged. Dun nga sa office nya na yun, 7 o 9 na lang daw ata yung mga natitirang origanal na andun, yung veterans. Nasa abroad na daw yung iba. Maski daw yung mga bagong nag-resign wala ding nakuha. Oo, resigned na mommy ko mga 2 o 3 yrs ago ata. Maswerte nga ako kasi nung ako yung nag-aaral, may work pa siya nun. Parang ako ang hindi nahirapan lalo na pag may babayadan. Naiisip ko din na ang hirap talagang maging magulang lalo na pag may mga anak ka tas isa ka lang. Halos lahat ng responsibilidad ay papasanin mo. Aakuin mo na ang lahat. Wala ka namang ibang maaasahan kundi sarili mo lang din halos. Naiisip ko talaga yung lahat ng sacrifices na ginawa ng nanay ko. Yung sinasabi nila isusubo na lang ay ibibigay pa sa anak. Ilang buwan ding nag-isip-isip ang nanay ko bago siya mag-resign, eh. Kinuwento kasi sakin nung tita ko na kaibigan nya at nung hipag ko na kakwentuhan din ng nanay ko. Minsan sa office daw pinagtatawanan na ang mommy ko kasi may utang nga. Mahina kasi tenga nun kaya minsan di na nadidinig yung mga comments sa kanya. Minsan naman gagawin nya yung pinakiusap na trabaho ng kaopisina nya. Ganun ka-professional ang nanay ko. Para sa trabaho, gagawin lahat magawa lang ng maayos at ma-meet ang deadline. Maski pa di sanay mag-computer yun, nagpapaturo para lang mapaayos ang trabaho. Sinabi nga ng tita ko sa kanya, eh, "Eh, ano ngayon kung pagtawanan ka. Tanungin mo sila kung san nag-aaral ang mga anak nila? Sabihin mo sa kanila na ang lahat ng ginagawa mo ay para sa mga anak mo. Sabihin mo din sa kanila na di sila ang nagbabayad ng utang mo." Loan officer III ang nanay ko dun. Maski na may position sya, di sya nagmamalaki sa mga kaopisina nya. Minsan nga nung pumunta dun yung kapatid ko sa bangko para mag-withdraw, eh nilapitan sya nung isa sa mga kaibigan dun ng mommy ko. Sinabi sa kanya na pagk-graduate daw nya, dun daw sya sa office ng mommy ko magtrabaho para daw balikan nya yung mga nangmamaliit sa mommy ko. Biruin nyo. Maski na teller na pinakamababa na ata sa bangko, eh masyadong walang alam kung saan nya dapat ilagay ang sarili nya. Kasi yung nag-withdraw yung kapatid ko, tinawag sya nung teller. Pumunta yung mommy ko sa teller at sinabi nga na anak nya yun. Ang mommy ko pa ang pinagbilang ng pera. Sabi ko nga mahina tenga ng mommy ko, sumigaw-sigaw pa dun. Eh, ang mommy ko di naman kumikibo yun maski na ganunin mo, eh. Tinarayan ng kapatid ko yung teller. Tas kinausap ng mommy ko yung kapatid ko na wag daw ganun. Nagpaliwanag naman yung kapatid ko. Basta yung mga ganyang bagay pag naiisip ko, mas nagpupursige ako na gawin ang trabaho ko ng maayos. Iniisip ko din na yung ganitong experiences, eh training na din sakin once nagkaron na ko ng sarili kong pamilya. Naiisip ko na din na maski na may posisyon ka na sa kumpanya, dapat di ka magbago lalo na sa pakikitungo sa kapwa at pag-uugali. Sobrang ipinagmamalaki ko ang nanay ko. Una, pinanindigan nya na mahal nya ang tatay ko maski na may unang pamilya na ito. Ikalawa, nung namatay ang tatay ko siya na ang nging nanay-tatay-ate-kuya-yaya-tagasundo pag late na tas galing fieldtrip-tagaplansta ng uniform pag wala na palang plantsado tas nagmamadali na-kayang maglaba at magluto ng sabay-pinilit matutong magluto noon maski na itinatago pa sa amin yung cook book-etc-etc. At panghuli, samasama pa din kami at inaalagaan. Itong mga susunod na buwan, sasabak na naman ako sa ibayong pagtitipid at pag-iipon. Nanghihinayang talaga ko kung ibabayad ko din lahat ng ipon ko kasi ang tagal ko din inipion yun tas nagtipid talaga ko. O.A. lang siuro ko at nag-panic nung malaman ko. Buti na lang at di ako nagpadalusdalos. Pero sabi ko nga sa mga nakararaan kong post, di ko rin alam kung paano ko nakakapag-ipon. Minsan maski na maubos yung sweldo ko, may way si God to make me feel that I am secured. Ewan ko. Basta ganun, eh. Di ako kinakapos. Mysterious. ****************** Kagabi di ako makatulog pa kaya nanood muna ko ng tv hanggang bago mag-12 mn. Replay pala yung Maalaala Mo Kaya. Buti na lang din at pinanood ko. Tungkol dun sa magkapatid na yung isa putol ang mga binti at isang kamay. Tas yung kuya naman nya ang pumapasan sa kanya papunta eskwelahan tuwing may pasok. Nakaka-insipire. Nakakapag-isip pa yung opening line ng host. "Hanggang kailan mo kayang isakripisyo ang personal mong kligayahan at pngarap para sa iyong kapatid?" May isang scene pa dun na nagpumilit umakyat sa hagdanan yung may mg putol na binti kasi di sya mabubuhat ng kuya nya at nagte-training ng COCC. Hinabol sya ng kuya nya pero nakapanik na ito. Naabutan sya ng kuya nyang pagod na pagod na nakasandal sa may pader. Tas sinabi nung may putol na binti na sana di na daw nag-training yung kuya nya. Sinabi nung kuya na ang yung kapatid naman daw nya na yun ang naghikayat sa kanya. Yun medyo umiiyak na sila. Sinabi din ng kuya nya nga nun lang nya sinunod ang gusto nya. Lagi na lang syang nagsasakripisyo para sa kapatid nya. Sinabi nung may putol na binti na huwag na lang syang tulunga kasi siya daw nagpapahirap sa kuya nya. Sibihan sya ng kuya nya na di sya pababayaan kasi mahal nya ang kapatid nya. Moving yung scene na yun. Mapapag-isip ka talaga. ****************** "Kind words bring life, cruel words crush the spirit." Pr. 15:4 I hope each and everyone of us would think first before we act. You know how it feels when somebody just cheers you up? When you feel that somebody stands for you? Believes in you? Encourages you? Acknowledges you? How about this? How would you feel is somebody curses you? Cuss on you? Mistreats you? Belittles you? Turns you down? Rejects you? There's always a nicer way to say something. Not the sugar coat. But the fact that you are dealing with individuals who are capable of feeling. ****************** I checked who made a comment in my last entry. After that, I payed a visit at her's. Good thing that my pc wasn't on mute. Her music is the Black Eyed Peas' "My Humps." Tsk tsk. Nakaka-LSS. Mahal ko na ata si Fergie. Yan ay di ko pa nakikita ang music video ng kantang ito, ha. Must get their album asap. ****************** Nakakatawa at pilit kong ginagaya yung sayaw sa OST ng D' Anothers. Yung part na, "Kung katawan ko lang ang habol mo..." hahaha! ****************** Last week yung 3rd yr anniv ng Congo Grille eb ng PEx. Kadalasan, mga taga-Personals forum ang andun. Sayang at di ako nakapunta. May thread pa man din ako dun at may mga kaibigan na ako. Bumabagyo kasi tsaka di naman nagsipuntahan din yung mga kaibigan ko. Pero mukhang masaya siguro yun. Finally meeting the one behind his/her username. Minsan bagay sa'yo yung username mo. Minsan hindi. Gaya ng sakin na parang di nga bagay. Hehe. Pero sabi ko nga, ok na makilala yung tao na gumagamit ng username na yun. Syempre may kanya-kanyang kwento kung ba't ganun yung ginagamit nila. Pero in every eb naman talaga, kadalasan masaya kasi parang close agad lahat kayo. Oi. Minsan lang ako nakipag-eb sa mga kaibigan ko sa PEx at iyon ay yung bday treat namin last year. ****************** World Youth Day nga pala ngayon. Kakabasa ko lang nung dyaryo kinuha ko sa mrt at na nasa bag ko kanina pang umaga. Nung WYD '95 eh 1st yr high school ako nun. Mga 4th yr lang yung sinama at konting representative kada year. Syempre di ako napili. Sayang. Gusto kongmaka-attend ng ganyan.
posted by Arn at 1:35 PM
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Tuesday, August 16, 2005
TagTake 2. Here's another one from Jaja and Denise. Pass on the curse este the chain pala. Seven things that scare me... 1. Natural calamities 2. snake 3. yung insects na may hairy o yung may tusok-tusok sa appendages tas biglang la-landing sayo(e.g. ipis, grasshopper, salagubang...pwera tutubi) 4. isang tao, anuman ang kanyang kasarian, na animo'y bigla ka na lang hihipuan kung makatingin. 5. lbm attack.. parang buong college life ko, nakaka-isang lomotil ako kasi psychologically, pakiramdam ko maje-jebs ako sa sasakyan. 6. gagambang madalas manahan sa banyo.. yung parang kinalaban ni super inday sa pelikula. 7. germs na pedeng makuha sa baha, paghawak sa handle sa escalator, table sa foodcourt.. mula nung nagka-health/personal & community hygiene subject ko nung college medyo conscious na ko sa mga nahahawakan ko. Seven things I like most... (things as in feelable este tangible?) 1. poetry book 2. personal computer with an internet connection 3. digicam 4. photo albums 5. toys sa toy kingdom o happy meal 6. black coffee 7. pancit Seven important things in my room... (in no particular order...) 1. electric fan 2. plastic bag na naglalaman ng yeabooks, photo albums at pictures na wala pa sa photo album. 3. cd player 4. bible na binili mula pa nung ako'y nasa ika-anim na baitang. 5. cds/tapes 6. drawer na a la caha de oro (yung sa commercial) na may cds, tapes, small notes, xmas/birthday cards, letters, key chains, giveaways, briefs, neck tie, pictures, wallet, bills, bags, belts ko. 7. yung box sa kaliwa ng kama ko na may important papers, newspaper cutouts, magazines, xerox copies of important articles, souvenirs ko. Seven random facts about me... 1. I'm an "innie." Papasok yung pusod ko. Di yung parang namamaga. :p 2. I have a 20/15 vision. Kaya kailangan ko ng pagkain mayaman sa bitamina A at pasado sa RDA. 3. I have crooked teeth. 4. I am underweight. 5. I hate nagging and all its synonyms. 6. I hate smoke, fog, smog because I feel like I would be subject to carbon monoxide poisoning. 7. I am a nature tripper. Seven things I plan to do before I die... 1. Get married. Start a family 2. Have my own business while I still have another job on the side. 3. Tour the whole Philippines and have my picture taken as souvenir. 4. Learn something more about arts (photography, painting, improve on my poetry) 5. Also, learn more about html, flash, adobe. 6. Have the bestest sexual experience. 7. See this certain person die before me. Seven things that I CAN do... 1. I can walk from my office, which is at the corner of Ayala and Buendia, to Glorietta in a span of 15-20 minutes. 2. I can cook sinigang sa sampalok maski pa walang sinigang mix at fresh from the tree yung bunga, adobo and omelet (Uy, omeley. Eto ang pinakamahirap. Haha!) 3. spend a whole day without talking 4. spend the whole day taking 5. write something which sounds and looks deep in Tagalog language. 6. watch a concert, movie, play alone 7. ignore someone for a whole day or week or month or year because of grave reasons. Seven things that I CAN'T do... 1. drive a car 2. sleep without an electric fan 3. sleep with a blanket 4. poop without drinking a hot, black coffee first.. yan ang pan-trigger 5. play chess 6. play on line games 7. operate the other microwave oven in the pantry. Seven things that attract me to the opposite sex... (my first four numbers would be about the physical, ok) 1. eyes 2. smile 3. butt 4. the manner of walking 5. respects my own private moment/time/life/gimiks 6. doesn't depend on me (parang di lagi nagpapasundo, nagpapatawag, nagpapa-text) 7. who can be classy or "cowboy-ish" or elegant in a given situation. Basta surprising. Seven things that I say the most... 1. parang (as in p-a-r-a-n-g.. hindi yung pa-konyo na "prang"...) 2. sh\t.. pero di ko sa tayo sinasabi yan. pag inis lang talaga ko sa sitwasyon. 3. f#ck. hindi rin sa tao, sa sitwasyon. 4. ha? 5. para tong sira/ewan. 6. hmm? oo. 7. eh.. (sabay kamot sa noo o sa pisngi at kagat ng labi.) Seven celebrity crushes... 1. katie holmes.. ultimate 2. shiri appleby.. liz parker of tv show, roswell 3. ashanti.. her ooohhs and aaahhhs in her songs are oh-so sexy! 4. jodi sta. maria 5. heart evangelista 6. tweety de leon 7. claire danes during the romeo+juliet days and before the "ghastly" issue about Manila. Seven people I want to tag... 1. Liza 2. Goldi 3. Vermon 4. Candy 5. Krisch 6. Francis 7. Jen ** On the lighter note, I've heard it from last night's news that a Filipina was declared the executive chef of the White House. Sorry, I forgot her name. But she was from UP and finished a degree in Food Technology. ** I cried this morning (on my way to work and while sitting here in my station). I feel that all my effort is useless, meaningless, pointless and effortless. *sighs* I hope to get better as days go by.
posted by Arn at 3:38 PM
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Saturday, August 13, 2005
(Street) Food TripI was just wondering when was the last time I enjoyed eating street foods. Enjoy as in e-n-j-o-y! I barely have time to make tambay (Oh, sh/t! I can't believe I'm saying this in a conyotic way.) with my friends...childhood friends. I think I have the luxury of time during my days off from work. But I also feel that I am running out of time thinking about.. I mean worrying about [enter anything you may want to]. Geez. Kaya ako namamayat ng ganito. Tsk. Tsk. I was actually thinking about creating this post last night, while I was on my way home. You know when you're in a public transport. Some street foods are brought by the vendor/s inside the bus. And they would make alok (haha!) to you. Btw, the way they attract customers is amazing. They are almost singing to their own melody with the lyrics of course the item/s that they have. Ah, mani..mani.. (boses na parang naipit at medyo matinis) Sitsarong baboy, ispeysyal.. bagong luto lang, o. Malutong.. Big- tubig..malamig.. sampu lang isa.. Kanya-kanyang diskarte rin talaga. I was so tempted to buy balut yesterday at the bus station. But I decided I'd just get two tomorrow, which is today. So, later definitely. Uhm, here are some of the street foods that I really miss eating: * balut - mas ok pa din ang balut samin kesa yung dito galing sa city. Nuebe pesos lang samin. Dito sampu.. mahal. Tsaka samin may maanghang na sukang kasama. * maning basa - yan po yung nilagang mani. Mas gusto ko talaga to kesa dun sa maning nasa loob pa nung kulay brown niyang balat tas tuyo. * kwek-kwek - mas nalilinisan akong kainin kung kulay dilaw yung balot nyang harina kesa orange. * tukneneng - mas malaki naman to sa kwek-kwek. Bale, itlog ng manok na nilaga tsaka binalutan ng harina. May mga stalls sa mrt na may tindang parehas ng nasabi ko. Masarap naman siguro kaso iba pa din yung kain kapag dun ka bumili sa naka-kariton na nagtitinda. Hindi lang yung pagkain, eh pati yung ambiance. Hehe. * LTB - for lugaw, tokwa, baboy. Madalas di ko nakakain yung baboy kasi nbilaga lang. Sa panlasa ko, eh parang di pa luto. Yung tokwa naman, eh konti lang din ang kinakain ko kasi di ko gusto lasa neto. Gusto ko lang din kasi dito, eh yung maanghang na sawsawan ng tokwa't baboy. * goto - syempre mas may dating to kesa sa lugaw kasi madalas may kasama tong twalya ng baboy, balun-balunan na paborito ko at dugo. Lalo pang masarap pag may kalamansi. Meron ding mga stalls o fastfood na nagbebenta nito. Pero sabi ko nga, iba pa din kung dun ka bumili sa karinderya o sa may kariton. Di mo mabibili yung ambiance. * Ihaw-ihaw - kasama dito ang adidas (chicken's feet), betamax (dugo), ulo ng manok, bbq, hotdog, isaw (bituka/intestine ng manok o baboy), tenga ng baboy. nakakapaglaway, no? Makita mo pa lang na iniihaw na yung order mo, napapadila ka na sa labi mo at gusto mo na agad isawsaw sa maanghang na sawsawan. * fishballs - isama mo na ang kikiam, squid at chicken balls. Pero ang karaniwang nasa tinda ng naka-sidecar o kariton ay fishballs at kikiam. Nakakapaglaway din lalo na pag medyo tustado yung fishballs at pag sinawsaw mo ay nanunuot ang sukang maanghang sa loob. At pagkagat mo, mapapangiwi ka. *lasap* * kakanin - puto, sapin-sapin, kutsinta, nilupak, binatog, biko, ginataang mais, bilo at munggo. Medyo mabigat ng lang sa tiyan. Pero bakit ba? Laman tiyan din yan. Tsaka pag gutom, eh talu-talo na. hehe. * Samalamig/Palamig - madalas tubig, arnibal at sago lang ang laman nito. Naaalala ko pa na malaki pa dati ang plastic na lalagyan nito di tulad ngayon na ang payat na at isang salok lang ng sandok ang kasya sa loob. Tas noon, yung sago ay ipinangtitira/ ipinangsusumpit namin sa mga kalaro namin. May flavor din to. Yung iba buko-pandan (kulay green tas may gelatin), may kulay pula na may pula din sago at gatas, may chocolate pa nga ngayon, eh. * Ice candy - eto ang tagal ko na talagang di nakakakain. Ang paborito ko na noon, eh yung grape flavor at chocolate. Ngayon kasi frostee na ata o iba na yung tatak ng uso. * sorbetes - ah, eto mas masarap kesa sa alinmang brand. Yung apa pa lang na manamisnamis, wala nang binatbat yung mga may pangalan nang ice cream. Tapos, sa isang order, karaniwan ay 3 scoop ng magkakaibang flavor ang ibibigay sayo. Masarap din pala ito pag ipapalaman mo sa monay. * footlong - madalas akong kumain nito nung college. After laboratory classes, bili muna kami ng mga barkada ko tas tambay dun sa tindahan nito at nagpapalipas ng ilang minuto. * siomai - shark's fin/dumpling ewan ko ba ba't ang mahal nito dito. Eh, nung nasa ust kami, 4pcs/12 lang. Dito halos P30 ata 4 pcs lang din naman. Pero that was 4 yrs ago. So, baka nagmahal na nga ang ingredients. * turon - may langka man to o saging lang ang nasa loob ng balot, ok na. * banana at camote cue - basta mainit pa, masarap. Pag malamig na kasi, eh naglalawa yung asukal eh. Parang nilawayan ng ibang tao. haha. * fish crackers - eto ang all time favorite junk food ko. Junk food ba to? Siguro kasi nung pinakita sa Imbestigador yung pagawaan ng mga ganito, eh iniipis at ang dumi ng lugar. Malamang junk nga. Kaso siguro naman yung binibilhan ko nito eh di dun sa maduming factory galing. Wala naman sigurong insect remnants, body fluids at pests excretions ang kinakain ko. Pag naiisip ko din ang fish cracker, eh naaalala ko yung pinsan kong fil-am na umuwi dito nitong summer lang. Nasa pool kami tas pinasisisid ako nung isa ko pang batang pinsan. Susundin daw nya ang iuutos ko pag sumisid ako. Sumisid ako tas inutusan ko na ikuha ko ng fish cracker. Nung kumakain ako nun sa pool, kinuka nung pinsan kong fil-am yung nasa kamay kong fish cracker. Tas nung nakain na nya eh humingi ulit. Kala ko kasi di din ako gaanong kakausapin nun kasi nga di sanay mag-Tagalog. Dahil sa fish cracker nagsimula yung usapan namin. Buti nga di ako nagksakit nung kumakain ako ng ganyan nung bata ako, eh. Yung iba ko kasi kakilala nagka-hepa. Di ko alam kung matibay lang ba talaga sikmura ko at masyado namang pihikan ang sa kanila. Basta ang akin lang, eh na-enjoy ko talaga ang pagkain sa mga ganitong klaseng pagkain. Di ba nga minsan pag may foreigner, eh street food din ang madalas nating ipasubok sa kanila? Ewan. I think it's not just the food. Ambiance, as I've said, adds something in the scene. Eating in the streets make me feel more than normal.. more than basic.. more than natural.. Dining in some posh or cozy places are ok. But in the street, it's more intimate, I guess because you get to know more about the people you're with. Eating goes well with a nice chit chat. Also enjoying street foods bring me back to the 90's. Ewan ko. Pero it has that effect on me. More of barkada and the food. My voice and his/her voice. My joke and his/her joke. Haay, nagugutom na naman ako.
posted by Arn at 3:29 PM
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Wednesday, August 10, 2005
The World Is Just Enough
 | | Your travel type: Rough guy
 When the going gets tough, the rough guy gets going! Sleep outside, hike up mountains, eat raw lizards for breakfast, that's his perfect holiday. Ten days of hiking through unspoilt jungle between Colombia and Panama, that kind of thing. |  | | top destinations:Alaska
Alice Springs
Ngorongoro
| stay away from:Tokyo
Paris
Venice
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get your own travel profile
Among all the places stated in my dummy passport, I am not familiar with Alice Springs and Ngorongo. Well, what's the use of google, in the first place. Let me research on that. Just a moment. Hum-hum-hum.
Alice Springs is in Australia. Popular places to visit are the Araluen Cultural Precint and the MacDonnell Ranges where I (and you, if you want to join me, hehe) could try outback ballooing.
Ngorongoro is in Tanzania. It's somewhere in the African region. So, that means I get to enjoy their wildlife. Hmm, cool.
Well, Alaska would be nice since I want to experience wiiiinntteeerrr. I also want to see eskimos in their clothes (no pun intended). And of course, their famous nose rub (nose-to-nose) and igloos.
I don't understand why the test I've taken wants me to stay away from Tokyo, Paris and France. I appreciate Japanese fashion, animation, some food, art and culture (ikebana, bonsai, pagoda, origami, kabuki, etc.). I also want to see Tokyo Disneyland and gigantic Astroboys, Hello Kitties and Mazzinger-Zs. In Paris, France, of course, is the Eiffel Tower. I think the Louvre Palace is also there. In Venice, Italy, are the rivers that passes through the bridges (I don't know what they're called). But more than anything and anywhere else, I want to travel and see the whole Philippines. Di nga. I am longing to eat each province's and city's specialty.. buy their native product.. live with their natives just for even for a couple of days.. enjoy the beach and festivities.. meet new friends.. take photos.. long bus rides where I could appreciate the scenery more and see the land better.. Ni di pa nga ako nakakasakay ng eroplano, eh maskin na domestic flight lang.. experience inang kalikasan at her best.. Haay, kelan ko kaya magagawa yan?
** My real passport is as clean as a white bondpaper. No stamps. No writings. No folds. In short, no visa. I haven't been out of the country in my entire life. But I have a valid, legal passport. Just in case, you know.
posted by Arn at 5:12 PM
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Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Random Thoughts XIX
A Tag Bam! I was tagged by my friend, Jaja from her post yesterday. Only two questions. But I am beginning to think of true answers now. 1. What are the things you enjoy doing even when there's no one around you? Bihira akong mag-isa sa bahay, eh. But when I am (This usually happens if it's a Sunday and there is an ocassion where my mom is invited and my ate and her family would go malling.), I play my cd of choice. The sound would be at volume 3 plus two minus signs. Ganun yung cd player ko, eh. 3 tas 3 na minus, pinakamalakas na sa volume 3. Tas food trip. Mas ok kung ako yung nag-prepare at nagluto kasi iba ang sarap ng kain. Pritong itlog, kanin, kalamansi at patis, talu-talo na. O, kaya instant pansit canton o instant coffee lang, pwede na. Upo sa sala. Kakanta-kanta kasabay ng music. O, kaya parang adrenalin rush. Magwawalis at magpo-floorwax ako. Tas magpupuno ako ng tubig sa mga drum. Bilis nun. Sa office, pag may naka-leave at ako lang. Blog hopping lang o kaya browse ng gif files. Kain din maski bawal. Sa labas, briskwalking. Kukuha ako ng pix ng kahit anong trip ko gamit ang phone. Praying. I am not that comfortable going to a place for worship where a lot of people are just loitering around. Reading weird stuff like Metaphysics. ;) 2. What lowers your stress/blood pressure/anxiety level? Blogging at posting sa threads sa messageboards. Bawal 'to sa office pero sinisiguro ko naman na wala akong sasabihin na bawal tungkol sa company namin. Nakaka-release din yung ng kung anuman tsaka nakakaalis boredome din. Drinking softdrinks or eating chocolates. Nakakapagpasaya ang sugar sa pagkakabasa ko. Texting a close friend. Pero alam ko na may kani-kanya na kaming time. Kaya blogging na lang din talaga ang pinakamainam na pang-release ng stress. Briskwalking ulit at pagkuha ng litrato lalo na to and fro the office. From Ayala to Buendia. Madami talagang makikita. Paulit-ulit lang yung establishments. Pero iba-iba yung mga tao. No, I am not checking out the people I walk with on the streets. I am just curious on what story they have just in case I become their friend or if I was their friend. Sabayan mo pa ng buga ng hangin at paghinga ng malalim, nakakagaan ng damdamin. Uy, rhyming Hehe. At least 5 minutes timeout. Mag-iisip muna ko bago ko magpadalus-dalos. Iba na ang nag-isip at naghanda. Doing a thing which I never had the chance to do again because of a busy sched, etc. Enjoy yung fishballs sa stick, uminom ng samalamig, maglakad sa baryo namin.. kumain ng fishballs na nasa stick habang umiinom ng samalamig at naglalakad sa baryo namin.. magluto ng popcorn at pancake, magtimpla ng grape juice na matagal ko nang di natikman.. manood ng koreanovela.. magluto ng popcorn at pancake at sabayan ng panulak na grape juice while watching a koreanovela. Whatta combination! Scent of menthol. Soothing. 3. Tag five friends and ask them to post it in theirs. Liza, Goldi, Mitch, Agnes and Kim. An all girl line up. :teehee: ****************** A Fortune Out of a long downtime on my account, I decided to check these sites: numerology and cards from Francis' blog, my teammate. On the former, here are my results: Arnold, your Life Path of 1 ...your Expression of 1 (Your Potential Natural Talents and Abilities)...your Soul Urge of 11 (What You Desire To Be, To Have, and To Do In Your Life). From the latter, I picked these cards randomly: The Judgement, The Magician, The High Priestess, The Sun, The Empress, The Lovers * The more detailed results are in my file. ****************** An Excerpt The following was taken from the email sent to me by my former teammate and batchmate, Zig. These are small things to ponder. Light but smart. I am thankful for: ... FOR THE TEENAGER who is complaining about doing dishes because it means she is at home and not in the streets. FOR THE TAXES I PAY because it means that I am employed. FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY because it means I have been surrounded by friends. FOR THE SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK because it means I am out in sunshine. FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES AT THE END OF THE DAY because it means I have been capable of working hard. FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF IN THE EARLY MORNING because it means I am alive. ****************** A Rant The five people you meet in corporate hell posted on July 8, 2005 by Marlon James S. SalesThe first time I was employed, I kept on telling myself that working on a new job would just be like my first day in kindergarten. You know--new faces, awkward glances, the customary "hi"s and "hello"s, the probing questions like, “Anong merienda mo?” What I unluckily failed to remember was that kindergarten was also a period teeming with bullies, upset tummies, late mommies, and broken crayons. As cheesy as it may sound, my kindergarten years were hell here on earth: being colorblind, I detested my art classes. I distinctly remember that one teacher taught us how secondary colors are formed by making us paint the color equation. “Blue plus red equals violet,” she recited in the most docile manner. Ten sheets of oslo paper later, I was still struggling to make my red-violets and my violet-reds simply just violet. “Marlon, hindi mo ba nakikita ang difference?” She asked me finally out of desperation, “Paint another one...again.” At which point I cried, yes, then I cheated by not mixing the colors in the equation and instead going for the paint tube that read VIOLET on its label. It was the first and the last time I cheated thus far. Then one time, in PE class--which was just the pompous name for playing on the playground on Fridays while Teacher gets a breather--I clumsily slid down a rusty slide. Not only did my immaculately white-and-pink ensemble (our elementary school colors) get dirty, but also my so-called pals laughed their heads off at me. “Teacher, Teacher, na-t*e po si Marlon!” they said in reference to the poop-like rust stain on my shorts. In kindergarten, pooping on one’s shorts was anathema and mentioning body parts usually covered by clothing was the ultimate joke. I got so scared to death that (1) I never went down the slide again, (2) I just consoled myself on the swing henceforth, and (3) I actually asked my Mom to take me out of school when finally I did poop my shorts months later. When I think about it, corporate life is very much the same as kindergarten. The bullies may now be dressed up in suits. The intrigues may now be more than just mere rust stains. The pressure may now be beyond achieving the perfect shade of violet. But the point is, they can be both hellish. So who makes a yuppie’s life a living nightmare? Please meet the five people in corporate hell: 1. The Buzz-er. Had this person not been in your company, you’re very sure that s/he would be writing a gossip column for a tabloid. S/he is far more effective than any employee’s manual there could ever be for s/he peppers her orientation with the juicy details on who slapped who, who slept with whom, whom to cling to just in case, etc. Of course, expect that s/he would dig up on your personals as well, so that the next time s/he would orient a new employee, s/he has you as the new specimen. S/he loves a chaotic workplace for more chismis are generated in chaos. 2. The Dominator/The Dominatrix. You secretly suspect that s/he has a thing for sadomasochism for s/he simply loves domineering people. S/he may not be the Top Guy or Top Gal, but when it comes to planning and brainstorming, s/he always has the final say. This type has an impenetrable skull; reasoning is futile. S/he wants this done this way, and s/he expects it to be done this way. And you should be wary: s/he can always ask you suddenly to do overtime on a Friday evening just when you're ready to meet your date--or worse, slap you with an insubordination complaint. 3. The Credit Grabber. Of all the lowlifes the Omnipotent created, s/he occupies the abysses. S/he always has the chutzpah (the plain ol’ kapal ng mukha) to brag on successes that, more often than not, are the group’s achievement. No meeting passes by without him or her referring to his training here, her diploma there, his endeavors here, her glowing records there. But the one thing that really gets on the nerves is the fact that s/he is almost always the first one to cower in fear or blame his/her colleagues when the project didn’t succeed. In the world of the Credit Grabber, s/he is the only one without mistakes. All the rest are mortal sinners. 4. The Sloth. Everyplace has The Sloth, I guess. S/he reports to work a millisecond before the official time. After logging in, s/he would most likely spend the next 30 minutes to an hour munching on snacks, fixing himself/herself, reading the newspaper, greeting everyone in the office, calling up people, texting...the list goes on. The next hour would be spent in checking and sending the e-mails, surfing the Net, talking to people, and inquiring on all personal matters through the company phone. Thirty minutes before break time, s/he is already preparing to go. At around 4PM, just when everyone else is ready to call it a day, s/he would notice what’s left to be done and would cram. Unfortunately, you’re obliged to cram with him/her. 5. The Ho-hum. While most people seem adversarial, s/he apparently exudes a positive vibe. That is, up until you get to talk to him/her. Immediately after striking a conversation with the Ho-hum, you get the sense that the Makati traffic jam is much more exciting. S/he doesn’t generally know how to talk in polysyllables, but when s/he does, the weather or the color of paperclips is the topic of choice. You try bringing up other “normal” topics: your crush, your favorite restaurant, the game you watched the night before, the sex video you saved in your mobile, but there’s a distinct danger that s/he would go over the edge and start talking about statistics, figures, blah-blah-blah-blah-blah. S/he is also called The Wuss. So there, the five people in corporate hell. I know there are more, but most are but permutations and combinations of these five. But you know what would be hell-er than hell? When you get all five people in just one person. Sometimes, this composite character goes by the title The Boss. Marlon has been on an extended post-graduation hiatus for the longest time now. He recently won the grand prize (plus the first and second prizes!) for the short story writing contest in Spanish at the Instituto Cervantes and will go somewhere on the other side of the planet soon to pursue further studies. This may probably be his penultimate article for CTC. As usual, comments are greatly appreciated. * I was about to rant about something. But I would have to allow the author to do the talking. At least, it didn't come from me. ****************** A Champion Last Sunday, the grandfinalits for the Search for the Star in a Million Season 2 was completed. Call me jologs but I've been watching the show, including the starter where Erik Santos and Sheryn Regis went head on, before it was reformatted with this title and format. Hmm, the only time I was hooked in American Idol was the time of Jasmine Trias and camille Velasco, where the latter was my favorite among all. Back to our local talent. Among these 12 hopefuls, my top 3 would have to be: 1. Kris Lawrence. From what I've read, he used to sing with RnB singer Jay-R back in the US. It was also Jay-R who convinced him to join the show. If he would win, he would be the most unique among all the champions in ASAP because he does RnB. 2. Tata. Again, from what I've read on the "On The Rise" column of one of the leading broadsheets here, she just recently passed the nursing board exam. She's small but she could belt out songs. 3. Anna. This one I have to say is already a champion. I remember her singing "On The Wings of Love" in one of the Metropop star search on Channel 7 where she was announced champion. I later saw her during the opening of the UAAP games when her school, FEU, was the host. I saw her again on Star in a Million contest where Frenchie Dy won. But she wasn't part of the grand finalists. From what was posted on TV, she's now in Mapua. I have this eye on her because she is/was the girlfriend of my friend's (Kookai) friend (Kalid). There's a connection somehow from her, to Kalid, to Kookai, to me. Haha! I know some of the finalists in this show, or in other talent search if I may add, are underdogs compared to, lets' say, some AI finalists. But I think, some AI finalists could also be shaken off by our young OPM singers or those who joined and won contests like this. Bottom line is, it's happier and more inspiring to see a fellow Filipino aspiring and fulfilling his/her dream. And that cheers me up. That makes me believe that after sacrifices, a good thing happens. And that makes me believe that our country could produce quality OPM artists. PS. I don't wanna hear or read comments which sounds like that of the judges of AI. Please. ****************** A Celebration  Happy, happy Birthday to my cousin, Jerome (Aug.17) and JJ (Aug.20), my officemate!!!! 
posted by Arn at 1:28 PM
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Saturday, August 06, 2005
Dude, Pare
   
Mababait. Matitino. Simpatiko. Guwapo. Iyan ay ilan lamang sa mga pang-uring pwedeng gamitin upang ilarawan ang apat na binatang inyong pinagmamasdan ngayon. Mula sa kaliwa, si Ronald, Joms, John at ang inyong lingkod. Walang official na pangalan yung barkada namin, eh. Actually, madami kami. Kaso tinamad na din akong mag-edit ng mga pictures kaya kaming tatlo na lang na uber handsome ang inilagay ko (uber means, uhm.. super? tama ba?). Bale madami pang smaller groups sa barkada namin. Bilangin mo kaming apat. Tas yung kina Margaux, kina Kookai, Jason, Roselyn. Basta may kani-kanyang grupo pero pag outing o tulungan sa research o lunch ay nagyayayaan kami. Maski na ang pagtambay sa BG (botanical garden) o sa high school, isang umpok lang kami. Isama mo pa yung pagkain ng footlong sa may Asturias pagkatapos ng histo & microtech lab subject ng alas 7. Last time kong nakita si Joms at Ronald nung sa Gerry's nga. Tas si John, July last year pa ata. Ilang beses na nga nya kong pinipilit pumunta sa kanila kasi nasa kanya pa yung xmas card na padala sakin ng kaibigan naming si Vincent.  Kuha 'to sa UST field bago ang Baccalaureate Mass namin nung March 2002. Bakit ako may dalang long-stemmed white rose? Galing yan sa isa naming barkadang si AC. Binigyan nya kaming lahat. Yung nasa likod nga pala namin ay ang Main bldg. Andyan yung ibang classroom at lab room namin. Bale nung araw na yan kami nagbati nila John at Ronald. Nagkatampuhan kasi bago mag-finals. Nainis kasi ko nung laboratory class namin. Tas nagpalamig muna ko nun kaya di ako sumasamang mag-lunch sa kanila. Di din ako tumambay nun kasama sila. Pero napag-isip ko din nun na pre-graduation jitters lang din siguro kasi ayoko pang magkahiwa-hiwalay kaming lahat na barkada. Baccalaureate Mass muna tas may ceremony/program. Ipinakit yung video clips habang kinukunan bawat college at students. Tapos, lighting ng candles. Yung kandila ng graduating students, eh sisindihan mula sa torch na dala ng dean ng college nila. Parang symbolism nya eh pinapasa na ng dean ang responsibility, future, wisdom, ect sa students. Dyan sa part na yan nagbibiro pa nga ako tas tawa pa kami ng tawa. Pero pagkatapos ng ilang minuto, nung palitan na ng USt pin, umiyak na ko. Bale yung pin na nasakin, ikakabit ko sa iba. Tas may magkakabit din sakin. Si Joms ang kapalitan ko nun, eh. Pagkakabit ko ng pin, nilapitan ko na isa-isa yung iba pa naming barkada at kinakamayan ko at nag-congrats ako. Kaso yung isang kamay ko nakatakip sa mukha ko kasi iyak nga ako ng iyak. Gumagalaw pa nga yung balikat ko tas my tunog pa yung iyak ko. Natatawa lang ako pag naaalala ko yun. Pati yung prof ko niloko nga ako after grad nung bumalik kami sa school. Wag na daw akong iiyak.  Ito naman ay sa PICC Plenary Hall nung graduation namin. Professor namin yung nasa gitna namin, Si Dr. Rotor. Si Margaux yang naka-pink dress at Regan yung isa pa. Parehas din naming kaibigan sila. Haay, napag-tripan ko lang mag-post ng ganyan. Kasi di namin mapag-meet yung sked namin, eh. Si Ronald, med student. Si Joms di ko alam kung nag-resign na as medical transcripitionist at med trans instructor. Si John, may graduate school. Ako, sa work. Tas halos lahat din ng iba sa barkada, eh nasa med school. Malamang sembreak o before xmas ang next gimik nyan. Deym. Nakaka-miss ang pagpapa-zerox sa Asturias. Pati na ang kwek-kwek at amoy ewan ng coop. Pati pala ang coop kasi giniba na siya. Nakaka-miss din ang benches sa high school. Yung covered walk sa may BG. Yung chapel. Yung paglalakad sa gilid ng field o sa may papuntang gym para mag-lunch. Nakaka-miss ang lunchtime sa SR Thai nung 1st year.. sa Capt. Cook nung 2nd year.. sa Mang Toots at E Cube na may "langgonisang binusog" mula kay Joms (di ko alam kung ba't di kami naging panatiko ng Almer's).. nakaka-miss yung pag-aabang ng jeep sa dapitan at andalucia.. pati na din yung mala-patinterong pagtawid sa dapitan.. yung pagpapa-recopy ng pictures sa four castles.. Dami pa. Ang dami ko nang kelangang gawin ulit. Next time pagpunta kong USTe, kakain ulit kami sa kinakainan namin dati. Hahanap din nga pala ako ng ust jacket sa may eng'g area. pati pagbili ng isang poetry book sa publishing house. Dati pagka-graduate ko, eh linggu-linggo talaga kong lumuluwas para makipagkita sa mga barkada ko. Nagpapalusot lang ako sa bahay na iche-check ko kung may transcript at yearbook na. Pero ang totoo, eh kitakits lang kaming barkada. Tas internet na ko bago umuwi. Sira talaga tuktok ko. Gastos sa pamasahe lang at oras ng biyahe, talo na. Ha, ewan. Basta I'm bringing back my college days glory. Sinabi ko na dati kung ano ang gusto ko sa college, eh. Basta the idea of college keeps me going. Buti na lang parang college din yung teammates ko. Tas dun pa ko kumakain sa isang low profile, pero masarap at ayos ang presyo ng pagkain, na canteen dito sa makati. Di ko alam kung immaturity lang o ayoko talaga mag-move on. Basta yun. It's a totally different thing when one speaks about college. Parang yun ang peak ng youth at personal life mo.. your choices.. decisions.. dreams.. Ay, drama. Para sa mga barkada ko mula college na alam kong hanggang ngayon, eh text-text na lang tayo kasi sobrang busy at malayo ang distansya, hintay lang. Pag lahat may work na at may sarili nang pera, makakapag-dinner o outing gaya ng dati ulit tayo. Dude, pare, steady lang. Para kong high, ah. Haha. O, sige na. Baka tumulo pa uhog ko. See you when I see you. take care. * Yung kuha ni Ronald ay mula sa dinner namin sa Gerry's Nobyembre ng nagdaang taon. Si Joms, halata naman na mugshot. Pasensya sa picture ni John kasi wala akong mahagilap maski na sa mga outing namin o sa friendster account nya. Yan lang ang pinili ko. Kuha yan sa PICC nung graduation 2002. Alam kong iyan ang gusto nyang ilagay ko kasi naka-barong siya dyan. Eh, trip nun ang pormal na getup. Yung sakin ay kuha ni Aisah, dati kong teammate. Kinunan nya kaming lahat na AM shift last year para sa pagbabago ng support site ng account namin kaso nga lang ay di naisakatuparan at natapos na kaagad yung account na yun. Kakapadala nya lamang ng mga pictures na kuha last year sa email kanina. Nung makita ko ang mga larawan ay na-miss ko tuloy lahat. *hikbi*
posted by Arn at 11:55 AM
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Thursday, August 04, 2005
Strange Naalimpungatan ako sa aking pagkakatulog kaninang madaling araw. Mga bandang alas dos y medya ay parang may narinig akong kaluskos sa may sala namin at konting kalampag sa bubungan. Mabilis pa sa aking aksyon sa isang baranggay tanod. Bumangon agad ako upang suriin kung ano ang mga ingay na aking naulinigan. Sumilip muna ako sa aking bintana para tignan kung ano ang meron sa labas ng bahay at bakit may kumalampog sa bubungan. Marahan ang aking pagbubukas na animo'y may inoobserbahan. Kaliwa't kanan ang pag-ikot ng aking mga mata ngunit wala akong napuna. Isinara ko na lamang ang aking bintana noong wala akong napala. Bumaling ako sa aking pintuan na ang nasa isip ay baka ang kapatid ko lamang iyon na umaga nang umuwi o mga magnanakaw. May mga insidente na din kasi ng pagnanakaw sa aming lugar. Binuksan ko naman ang aking pintuan sa isang marahan din na pamamaraan. Madilim. Ngunit may liwanag sa may kusina. Kadalasan ay iniiwang bukas iyon ng aking nanay hanggang sa paggising namin sa kinabukasan. Walang tao. Walang kahit ano. Sa isip-isip ko, malamang guniguni ko lamang ang mga iyon. Kaya't nahiga muli ako sa aking kama para ipagpatuloy ang naantala kong paghimbing. Ngunit di na rin ako makatulog. Ipikit ko man ang aking mata ay hindi na ako makatulog pa. Gising na ang aking isipan. Karaniwan ay medyo matagal bago mahnap ko ulit ang aking antok. Nahiga na lamang ako at ipinikit ang aking mga mata. Pero gising pa din ako. Inabot na ng pasado alas singko ng umaga bago ako nakatulog. Nadinig kong tumunog na ang aking telepono na senyales na dapat na akong bumangon at maghanda para sa pagpasok sa trabaho. Saktong alas singko beinte yun. Inisip ko na mayroon nang mainit na tubig sa telmo kaya ayos lamang na umidlip muna ko para makaiwas sa sakit ng ulo. Napaidlip naman ako ngunit may kababawan. Mga ilang minuto din siguro ang itinagal noon. Muli akong nagising. Iniisip ko kung ano na ang oras. Igagalaw ko sana ang aking kamay para kapain ang telepono ko ngunit di ako makagalaw. Pakiramdam ko'y may pumipigil sakin sa aking pgbangon. Pakiwari ko'y may isang malakas na kung anuman na my hawak sa dalawa kong braso. Idinilat ko ang aking mata ngunit medyo malabo ang pagkkaaninag ko. Kita ko lamang ang malabong repleksyon ng liwanag na mula sa papasikat na araw sa aking bintana. Nilalabanan kong tumayo ngunit di talaga ako makagalaw. Nung bigla akong nakatayo ay agad akong kinilabutan. Hinipo ko pa ang aking braso para tignan kung nakatayo nga ang aking mga balahibo. Medyo pahingal pa akong lumapit sa estante para buksan ang ilaw. Pagbukas ay dun ko pinagmasana ang aking braso. Tayo pa din ang mga balahibo. Hingal pa din ako. Iniisip ko kung nanaginip lang ba ako. Ngunit bakit nakadilat ako? Medyo malabo man ang tingin ko ay nkit ko ang liwanag mula sa aking bintana. Alam ko din na pilit kong itinatayo ang aking likod. Nanatili muna ako ng ilng minuto sa aking silid upang mag-isip. At saka ako bumaba bitbit ang aking bag at radyo. Nagtimpla na akong kape at naghiwa ng keso para sa aking apat na pan de sal. Kasabay ko ang musika na mula sa aking radyo sa pag-aalmusal para malibang. Wala lamang iyon, pagpapalakas ko sa aking sarili. ****************** Sinadya ko talagang ganyan ang style ng pagsusulat para nakapanghihilakbot. Pero di ako nanloloko. Natakot din ako. Kasi nung di ako makagalaw, eh parang nakatali yung 2 kong braso. Magkadikit na magkadikit kasi yung braso ko sa katawan ko. Yung tipong walang space sa kilikili. Ipit. Alam mo yung pakiramdam na hinostage ka tas tinali ka. Tapos nun nanlalaban ka at nagkikikiwal para maalis yung tali? Ganun. Ewan ko din. Ayoko pa namang takutin ang sarili ko. Mamaya pagdating ko bahay ako lang sigurong mag-isa pa naman. Makikiramdam ako pagdating. Titingin-tingin ako sa paligid lalo na sa duluhan namin. Kakain. Manonood ng tv maski na nakakatakot manood mag-isa na parang may nanonood din sakin. Tapos kakabahan akong mag-urong ng pinggan pagkakain. Tapos, kakabahan ako sa loob ng banyo habang naliligo bago matulog. Tapos.. Tapos... ...nanay ko po! Hindi. Pero wala yan. Ako pa. * Siguro kakaisip ko na manood ng D' Anothers kaya ganun, no. Hehe. 
posted by Arn at 3:56 PM
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Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Just So You KnowMars (sent via email)  NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN. The Red Planet (MARS) is about to be spectacular! This month and next, Earth is catching up with Mars in an encounter that will culminate in the closest approach between the two planets in recorded history. The next time Mars may come this close is in 2287. Due to the way Jupiter's gravity tugs on Mars and perturbs its orbit, astronomers can only be certain that Mars has not come this close to Earth in the last 5,000 years, but it may be as long as 60,000 years before it happens again. The encounter will culminate on August 27th when Mars comes to within 34,649,589 miles of Earth and ! will be (next to the moon) the brightest object in the night sky. It will attain a magnitude of -2.9 and will appear 25.11 arc seconds wide. By August 27, Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye. Mars will be easy to spot. At the beginning of August it will rise in the east at 10p.m. and reach its azimuth at about 3 a.m. by the end of August when the two planets are closest, Mars will rise at nightfall and reach its highest point in the sky at 12:30a.m. That's pretty convenient to see something that no human being has seen in recorded history. So, mark your calendar at the beginning of August to see Mars grow progressively brighter and brighter throughout the month. Hmm, close encounter, he?  ****************** Kakatapos ko lang kumain ng lumpiang togue. Tatlong kagatan nga lang kasi may camera dito. Ayokong makuhanan, no. Tapos, andito pa yung sup ko sa may kanan ko kaya tiyak makikita ko. Ok lang sana kung chips lang ang kinakain ko. Ngunit hindi yung camera o yung sup problema. Ang masaklap, eh di ko nagamit yung suka (vinegar) na kasama nung lumpia. Pihadong aamoy kasi sa floor pag binuksan ko yung plastic. Ang dami pa man ding sibuyas nun tas mukhang ang asim-asim at maanghang pa. Ngayon pa naman lang ulit ako nakakain ng lumpia tas minadali ko pa. Itinago ko pa kami yung plastic nyan sa bulsa ko. Mula sa bldg na kinainan ko ng lunch, ibinulsa ko yung lumpia maski na malaki at suka sa pantalon ko para di dyahe at turn-off habang tumatawid ako sa Ayala. Tapos, di ko man lang nagamit. Sayang talaga. Linsiyak. Naglalaway tuloy ako.  Leksyon sa araw na ito. Ginawa ang suka para sawsawan ng lumpia. 
posted by Arn at 5:49 PM
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Kids
Sometimes, I like kids. Sometimes, I don't. But I like them more than I don't. I have this analogy in mind - Kids are like puppies. I love them when they're young. I'd hate them after they've grown. Hate not as in kill-hate or evil-hate. I know you would agree that kids are more likely to follow the (your) rules for the main reason that they are younger. And you are older than them. But once they grow up, it's their own rules usually. They have their own mind set. Yes. They would just be like you. And me. Kids grow. Age. 1981 - The year I was born. i guess it was different then. Life, it is. I have asked myself several times, "What if I were born 20 years before my actual birthdate?" So, that would make me a 3-yr old (cute) little boy whos about to turn 4 by October. Perhaps, my mom (and my dad - given that he's still alive) could've been asking me to do some scriblings on a piece of white paper in preparation for my entry to a nursery school come next year. I could also be getting all the food that my body would need to be healthy. Age 3 would not be best for asking children to buy something from a sari-sari store so I would be safe from endless errands from the elders. Being a child would make me dream even more. I mean, I have at least the whole day just playing with my toys or watching a cartoon show on tv while sipping an orange juice or drinking my milk. A few hours later, i would be given a nice bath by my babysitter or my mom or my dad or my elder sibling. Then, watch and play (who says you couldn't do two things at the same time?) again until I fall asleep. And when I wake up, another snack would be ready for me to consume. I don't know if kids do worry. I know that they usually get jealous if their other sibling gets the attention of their parents. But it's hard to figure out how they feel. I know it's stupid to think that these days they are aware of the debts that they shoud pay once they grow up. They know some names and situations but do not understand them fully. I don't know, too, if kids get bored with their routine. If they aren't in school yet, play-eat-sleep-watch tv are their ordinary life. Hmm, maybe the reason why some kids are hyperactive or makulit or malikot is because they are bored. And they need some other thing to do besides the above mentioned. 
Taken from a wall in McDonald's SM Makati one Saturday, lunchtime.Kids beaming with smile are very relaxing and moving to look at. This is just a picture. What more if it was real. Here also are some pictures of my two nieces. I've got four nieces and four nephews all in all.    1. That's Gwen (5) on the left and Christine (2) on the right enjoying the cookies I gave them. 2. Christine was trying to put the cookie that she licked into Gwen's mouth. 3. This is the only time I told them to look at my cam phone. While I took the first two, I asked them not to look my way so that I would capture something in candid. I wonder how would they be like let's say 15 years from now. That would make me somewhat ols and they would be on the height of young adulthood. I wish there would be a time where the mininum fare for a jeepney ride is P1.50 only just like them. In no less than 10 yrs, that P1.50 became P7.50. Poor country. Poor people. Poor kids. (oh! this is not a post concerning politics. Sorry.) I also worry about their future. Gwen is now enroled as a kinder pupil in a public school where her mom is a Gr. 5 teacher. Give Christine another 2 yrs then she's set to be in nursery. With all due respect to the people who are studying, teaching, governing, fighting for a change, working in public schools, I worry about my nephews and nieces education wise. I wish we were all that rich so all would be in private schools enjoying curricular and extra-curricular activities the best school in my place offers. I am 23. I know sometime in my 20's I'd be hopefully having my own family. And of course, having a kids or kids would be part of that. Flashes of me worrying, planning for the baby's and family's future almost always linger somewhere in the sanity in my bedroom before I sleep. Worries. I wish I was still a kid. Hmm, but kids, I guess are luckier these days because of the improvement technology-wise. Hence, celphones, laptops, mrt, internet, etc. I would know what it would be like to take care of a kid once I get there (own family). I only took care of my Gwen during summer and sembreaks back in college. I know how to bathe a kid, prepare the milk, etc. I don't know. Kids are just very nice to look at. Very fragile. Soft. Cuddly. Curious. True.
posted by Arn at 3:46 PM
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