Talikasan 2007: Mt. Pantingan

"Take nothing but pictures.
Leave nothing but footprints.
Kill nothing but time."

Spent Friday night at April and Mary's apartment. Most of the time, I was busy packing, and unpacking, and packing, and unpacking, and packing. Get the drift? Hehe. I had a tough time deciding on what bag to use, what to put in, and where to put it, and visualizing myself carrying a ton of load on my back. Had second thoughts about using the bag that Eugene lent me after hearing this from someone who was "strongly supportive":

"Ang ganda! Bagay! San si Master Splinter?"

Thank you very much for that well-deployed sarcasm. Hehehe. I tried squeezing everything into a smaller bag but I was afraid it would burst at the seams. I still ended up using the trekking bag, which is only a few sizes smaller than me. Hell, if I looked like a fuckin' Ninja Turtle then... Cowabunga!

The assembly time at Five Star bus terminal in Cubao is at 4-fuckin-am. April and I forgot to bring a packed lunch so we looked around the terminal for food. Our best efforts rewarded us with two (Yep, not just one but two!) übernutritious and überscrumptilicious hotdogs! How deeply rewarding, ain't it?! Ha!

When we rode the bus, we immediately fell into a coma. Yep, waking up at such an ungodly hour can do just that. Ehe. The trip lasted for about 4 hours. From the Bataan bus terminal, we rode a jeepney going to an Aeta community in Bagac where we kicked things off with a couple of reminders from our Trek Lead, Tupe a.k.a "Trasher", and a little stretching led by Miles.

After making a couple of my joints snap, we began the trek to Mt. Pantingan. When we entered the rainforest, the sound of nature prevailed. The wind spoke in hushed whispers. Dried leaves and twigs cried beneath my feet. And the water, for lack of a better verb, kissed the rocks ever so passionately. Nyaha.

During the pre-climb, we were reminded to wear arm warmers and be as "covered and protected" as possible. And being the hard headed person that I am, I didn't wear any form of arm protection and I even wore capri pants. As result, I got myself a nasty set of scratches on my arms and legs.

We had our lunch by the stream. The hotdogs we bought looked pitiful. Hehe. Good thing Jeleni and Byron were generous enough to share their packed lunches. ^_^ After eating, I threw myself into the water to freshen up a little.

Mona then gave a lecture about the Leave No Trace (LNT) Principles of outdoor ethics. The principles are as follows:

1. Plan ahead and prepare. It's about knowing the regulations and concerns about the area to be visited. Preparing for extreme weather or any form of emergency that may arise.

2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces. That includes established trails and campsites, rock, gravel, or dry grasses. It is also said that good campsites are found, not made.

3. Dispose of waste properly. Pack it in, pack it out. Whatever you bring up, you bring down. Be it an empty bottle of water, a candy wrapper, or leftover food. But of course, human waste is an exception. You can dig a cathole for that.

4. Leave what you find. Leave rocks, plants, and other natural objects as you find them. Avoid introducing non-native species. Coz whatever change that you do will later have an effect on the environment.

5. Minimize campfire impacts. As much as possible, you should do away with building campfires. If it can't be avoided, you should keep the fire small, burn all woods to ash, put out the campfire completely, then scatter cool ashes.

6. Respect wildlife. Wildlife should be observed from a distance. Never feed them. For feeding them may damage their health and may alter their natural behaviors.

7. Be considerate of other visitors. Respect future visitors and protect the quality of their experience.

"Bad Boy" talked about reading trail signs:



Minutes later, the trek resumed. 'Twas a much tiring second half especially when we reached the grass land, where there were no trees that would block the sun's blazing fury.

Me: "Malayo pa ba tayo?"
Rey: "Malapit na!"

We reached leveled grounds, trekked up steep climbs, walked down, walked up, but the trail just wouldn't end, and Danny's Gate just wouldn't come.

Me: "Akala ko ba malapit na?"
Rey: "Malapit nang maging malapit. Hehe."

We finally reached Danny's Gate. Enjoyed the breathtaking views from the campsite. Jerry, our Group Leader, taught us how to choose the right site and how to properly pitch a tent.

Rey prepared our dinner which, I'd like to believe, was pininyahang manok. Hehe. It lacked flavor so we simply added salt to taste. Rey even tried to add orange juice to it. Nyaha. But in fairness to him, he is a good cook. We were just a little short of ingredients, really. Ehe.

The socials followed after dinner. Our group's presentation was a total disaster. After all the performances, there was this raffle where bags, shirts, and sandals were given away courtesty of our sponsor - Neptune Sportswear.

Those who wanted to drink, drank. Those who wanted to sleep, slept. And I need not say what I did. Hehe.

The three of us girls were assigned to prepare breakfast. We bought too much food - a pack of danggit and a pack of pusit, two packs of dilis, two cans of tuna flakes, and some eggs. We didn't cook everything, and that I regret, coz I had to carry them on our way down the mountain. -_-'

For me, the trek down was much harder. I really felt the weight of my bag pushing me forward. It rained a bit, and though it was refreshing, it also made the trail slippery. My shoes didn't have enough traction so I had to be extra careful or I'd tumble all the way down the mountain. Also, we had lesser rest stops. Seemed like everyone's excited for our side trip, eh?

When we got back at the Aeta community, we were all tired as hell but very proud of ourselves as well.

Rode a jeepney going to our side trip at Sun Moon Beach Resort. Tough luck, the Red Fairy came. But on second thought, I'd rather paint the beach red than paint the mountain red. Right, April? Hehe. ;)

Jerry cooked menudo for lunch. Out of all the meals I've eaten, 'twas the most filling. Maybe because I was no longer afraid of hearing and answering the call of nature since restrooms were conveniently available and digging catholes were uncalled-for. ^_^

We left the beach late in the afternoon. Angela lost her phone. We all doubted that one of us took it but for fairness' sake, all our bags were inspected when we reached the bus terminal. But after rummaging through each other's stuff, not a phone was found. Nothing that was hers, at least. Tsktsk.

Again, I slept through the trip back to Manila. And a very restful sleep, it was. We got off the bus at Cubao and took a cab home. Saw myself in the mirror and noticed that I am at least three shades darker and my scratches, swollen and red. But it was sure all well worth it!!! ^_^

Me, Myself and Myrene

Got out on the wrong side of the bed. I wasn't in the mood to go anywhere that involved me leaving the house. Texted Isah that I'll no longer attend the christening of Kuya Jeff's daughter.

Isah: "Wag ganun. Nakakahiya kei Kuya Jeff kc naka-oo na tayo."
(or something to that effect.)

MJ: "Injan pana! Huy punta ka!"

Ok. All I needed was a little push. Hehe. Met up with Isah, MJ, JP, and Franz at Galleria to buy the group's gift for Jasmine Andrea. We got her a walker and a feeding set that could serve her 'til she's 6. That is if I remember JP's "product promotion" right. Hehe.

While walking around the mall, we saw Myrene Academia. Who would pass the chance of having their picture taken with this funky bassist? Well, definitely not us. ^_^

Went to Ministop to get a quick food fix before heading to Edsa Shrine for the ceremony. After the baptism proper, we all went to Jade Palace for the reception. After the reception, we decided to catch this:

"Everybody in this world is scared. But sometimes, it takes two scared persons to do one brave thing: to fall in love."

Blood Drunk

Received a text message from Marj inviting us for dinner at Makati. Tried to convince them to have it in Ortigas for a change. Erwin's ok with the idea. Marj agreed if and only if we're gonna pay for her taxi fare going back to Makati. Ampness. Hehe.

Had our dinner at Teriyaki Boy. Funny how Marj kept on complaining about everything.

As soon as they arrived:
Marj: "Grabe! Ang layo layo ng nilakad namin! Bumaba kami don tapos..."

While perusing the menu:
Marj: "Ang mahal mahal pa ng pinili niyong kainan. Ano bang pinaka-mura dito?"

While placing our orders:
Marj: "Service water na lang po."

Nyaha. To think that she's the one earning the nice dough!

After dinner, we watched 300. 'Twas an epic movie based on Frank Miller's graphic novel about the 300 beefcake Spartans and their 1800 screaming abs. Very profound, eh? Hehe. Seriously, 'twas about the 300 Spartan warriors who stood against hundreds of thousands of Persians in the Battle of Thermopylae. The battle scenes were full of sweat, blood and gore you would want to stand in the middle of the theater, point at the screen and yell, "Take that, mother...clocker!" Hehe.

Discovered this beautiful man, Rodrigo Santoro, who played the role of Xerxes the drag queen! Err, the Persian God-King, I mean. ;)



After the movie, we met up with Ogie at McDonald's. Headed to Starbucks in Metrowalk where we stayed until a little past midnight.

SUMaMER Na!

As much as I wanted to join the company outing last year, I wasn't able to because of an eye injury (which I so deserved). This year, I did my best to abstain from bad deeds and stay out of bad karma. ;)

Met up with Roxie in front of their village at 5:45am. We were able to hail a cab 5 minutes later. Asked the driver to drive like a maniac. And he obligingly did. Arrived at Tektite at exactly 6am. In my watch, at least. Hehe.

While the other buses left, our bus waited for any latecomers until 7am. Got caught up in traffic along SLEX due to a car accident. 'Twas already past 10am when we arrived at our destination - the Caliraya Recreation Center in Lumban, Laguna.

As we were crossing the lake, the others were already preparing for the first game, which is the Canoe Racing.



I dunno which among the business units won. I'm not even sure who played for each team. Hell, did I really watch it?! Nyaha. Oh well.

After the first game, we went to the Dining Hall for our lunch. The porkchop was dry and flavorless. They said the chicken was better but I can't eat anything malansa. So I just stuffed myself with banana cake. Needless to say, 'twas a bad and sad lunch for me. Huhu.

The second game followed after a few hours of free time. It involved a giant ball that the players had to shoot into goal. Funny how the ball sometimes landed its way to the spectators that we had to run from our seats every time.



Both the male and female divisions of the game were very physical. A lot of players got hurt. There were open cuts, swollen feet, dead toenails, and whatnot.

Then decided to take the plunge. The pool was too deep for non-swimmers like me. Its deep end measured 11 feet that I simply held on to the sides of it. Nyaha.



We then emerged from the pool to eat our snacks. While eating, we saw Marlyn and Jo climbing the walls.



Our eyes turned green with envy. We ran up to the information counter to register. Sadly though, we were too late. The group of Boss Che was able to grab the remaining slot from 4-5pm. :( To relieve our frustration, we asked the belayer if we could climb the wall a little, even without the shoes and the harness, just to pose for pictures.



Yep, we were that desperate. Hehe.

There was supposed to be a 3rd game, which is the Slip and Slide, but most of us were no longer up for it. So we were once again free to do whatever until 5pm.



Almost everyone who were with us in the bus going to Laguna transferred to a different bus for a less bumpy and less nauseating ride back home. But we chose to stick to our old bus for a less crowded ride. One row is to one person, so we were able to stretch our tired bodies and be dead to the world.

In Love Pooh Ako

Yesterday was the last day of two of my colleagues at work, each leaving for their own reasons.

Jessa is one of my batchmates. Yep, there goes another one from our batch. Hehe. She had also been a constant companion, especially during lunch breaks, when we talked about things or people or get the juiciest 411 from Perez Hilton. She left the company to hibernate for a while and go back to school this coming school year.

I used to see Odin as a person who does nothing but work work work, with little or no social skills at all. As someone who's very serious, almost uptight. But when I transferred to VGS, all these impressions changed. Odin is one of the persons whose intelligence I admire and respect to high heavens. He can help you out on almost anything, technical or not. He can listen to you, and I mean really listen to you, when you need it. He can crack you up with his jokes, wholesome or otherwise, and piss you off with his ka-feelingan. 'Nerd na gwapo' as he would humbly describe his self. Hehehe. Now he's off to a place not far from Tektite but where the grass is definitely greener.

I remember Boss Joseph saying that here in Tsukiden, people come and go so quickly. And indeed, he is right. It may be a bit of a stretch but it seems like there are people leaving every week. I've had this kind of conversation so many times:

"Last day na pala ngayon ni _____."
"Ah talaga?"

And I'm sure as hell that I'm gonna have more of it in the future. I just wonder when that sentence would end with my name on it. Hmmm...

~o0o~

Went to Metrobar to watch Pooh. Some performances had me roaring with laughter, while a few had me yawning. But overall, the show was entertaining. The food had small servings at a hefty price and it tasted bland that I barely touched it. So without eating a decent meal for dinner, I foolishly downed two bottles of Smirnoff Ice. Felt dizzy for a few minutes, but I don't think that the drink was to blame coz I didn't feel intoxicated at all. I'm pretty sure that the flickering strobe lights of the stage have caused it. Hehe.



Left the bar after an hour or so and headed to Metrowalk where Roxie and John were hanging out. But we didn't stay too long as we were all tired and in need of our beds. So after a few talks, the three of us decided to call it a night... at around 3 in the morning. ^_^

Kalsada Nobenta

Went to the senior's legacy concert entitled Kalsada Nobenta in Assumption Antipolo to catch Urbandub, Kjwan, Moonstar 88, and Parokya Ni Edgar perform live.


I've been an Urbandub fan since college and their songs never failed to rock me to the core. Mabuhay ang mga talentadong Cebuano!


Marc Abaya looked so fucking high and drugged and HOT as usual. God, I heart him a lot!


Didn't know that Moonstar 88 had a new vocalist until now. Though they sound pretty much the same, I still prefer Acel over Maychelle for a number of reasons. Ehe.


Parokya Ni Edgar's set was a blast. Lost count of how many songs they actually played coz they just kept on granting requests from the audience. Chito sure is a funny, funny guy. At crush ko talaga si Gab. Hehe.

Since we're not sure of whether we'll be able to catch a ride home or not, we decided to just stay for a while, wait in line, and have our pictures taken with Dindin, Buwi, Gab, and Chito!



Nah, I did not faint. But I almost peed in my pants. ^_^

We waited for a ride going down from Antipolo. After waiting for what seemed like forever, a jeepney finally arrived. I was a little scared though coz the passengers were mostly male who either wore oversized jackets or huddled under blankets, looking like goons hiding an M16 rifle or something. But the moment the jeepney pulled away, and as I sat there shivering to death, I desperately wished that I had a jacket or a blanket with me, goon-looking or not. Bleh.

Life Is A Beach

Just got home from Kabayan Beach Resort in San Juan, Batangas. It's been a while since I've been to the beach and it feels great to once again have my feet buried under powder-soft sand. It just sucks that the Red Fairy decided to pay me a visit the night before and left me with no choice but to tag her along. Bleh.

The trip was very long and I pretty much slept the whole way to the resort. Which isn't really something new coz whether it's a long trip or not, whether it's true that I'll be "missing half of the fun of getting there", it doesn't matter. I'll sleep through it anyway. Yes, I'm a sleepyhead like that. -_- ZzzzZz

When we arrived at the resort, first thing we did was to sink our teeth into the food that Mary prepared that deeply satisfied our grumbling stomachs. A few hours later, we went snorkeling. Which was quite an experience. But had I tied my life vest a little tighter and had I gotten a snorkeling mask that actually fits and had I not swallowed too much sea water (hehe), I could've enjoyed it much much more. And unlike the others, I didn't find Nemo. :(

Because we can't just run away from the waters for fear of leaving faint traces of red in the sand, we stayed soaked until our fingers and toes became prunes. But I don't think the sea had as much fun as we had. As its biting chill seeped through our pores, its waves relentlessly pushed us onto shore, spitting us out of its majesty. But we were too busy enjoying ourselves to even bother.

The night was drowned with bottles of beer, vodka, and tequila. Everyone got themselves wasted by the shore, save for some who opted to stay sober, myself included. All I had was a bottle of vodka and a single shot of tequila before I drifted into la-la-land. Yes, I am lame like that. Ehe.

Said our goodbyes to the resort the following day. But not before posing for several photo ops, of course. ^_^

Haiku Melendez

I was watching an episode of South Park entitled "Roger Ebert Should Lay Off The Fatty Foods". There's this one scene where Mr. Garrison was teaching the class what a Haiku is, saying that it's just like a normal American poem, except that it doesn't rhyme, and it's totally stupid. Hehe. An example given by Kyle as an insult to Cartman goes like this:

Ass full of pork fat.
Jiggles like a Jello mold.
Mouth is flapping, too.

Some hours later, Mary approached me and asked me to write a haiku about love containing the letters m, a, r, and k. And I came up with these:

(1)
I aM here to love.
And to be loved in Return?
Icing on the caKe!

(2)
I'M scared of falling.
Coz when I fAll, I fall haRd.
Please be there, Katch me.

(3)
The key to My heart
Is in your hAnds. Open it.
And it's youRs to Keep.

Inspiration struck me. The words were on a roll and I started counting off syllables on my fingers. 5... 7... 5...

(1)
I have played this game
Once, twice, thrice, I lost my count.
Now, the game played me.

(2)
You're in a hurry.
And I just can't run with you.
Go on without me.

(3)
I wrote an entry.
I dunno how to end it.
Uhm... Like this, perhaps.

Charlotte's Kringle's Web

For the past few days, my mind was a crazy mess of thoughts. I'm caught in the middle of this web we've spun ourselves and I dunno if I could ever untangle it. I got into it for reasons I myself cannot explain. Now I'm wrestling with my conscience, trying to stave off my inevitable defeat.

I have an awful lot of things to say but I know that none of it will still matter. Coz it's not my call anymore. But still, for what it's worth, I'm sorry. What I did was wrong and I am really really very sorry. :(

"I never meant to cause you trouble,
And I never meant to do you wrong,
And I, well if I ever caused you trouble,
Oh no, I never meant to do you harm"
--- Trouble, Coldplay

Rebel With A Cause

I feel insulted by your thinking that I dunno what's wrong from what's right, that I still can't decide for myself. Coz I know, and I can. I should! I'm 21 years old, for crying out loud! Fine, you can play your role as parents. You can give me your two cents worth on the matter. You can enlighten me with your wisdom. But that is as far as you guys can go. Don't take a step further and pressure me into changing my decision. You see, the more you pressure me to do so, the harder I would resist, and the worse the situation would be.

You always say that I should use my head. You know what? I am using my head. As well as my heart.

2wenty 00h! Se7en

Today is just another day among days. A tiny mark drawn in the infinite stretch that is time. It's just another Monday. Another day on the calendar. But what makes it really special is that for most of us, the New Year symbolizes a new beginning. A time where we could begin with a slate wiped clean.

As of this moment, there are 365 blank spaces awaiting to be filled in with good and bad choices, and written on with memories of loving, losing, winning, and living.

Wishing everyone a prosperous 2007!

Doña Jovita Garden Resort

Went to Doña Jovita Garden Resort in Laguna with my college friends. After several outings that have passed, I was finally able to join them again. First met up with Gary and Yel at Glorietta. Then we headed to Festival Mall in Alabang where we waited for Ogie, Jonna, and Marj. Rode a bus going to Pansol and fetch Erwin somewhere down the road. Ehe.

We arrived at the place at around 11pm and ate our dinner just then. And it rained pa! Very reminiscent of what happened during our Milestone, eh? Think I have a birthmark on my ass. >_<

The resort was basically divided into two. The area on the left side had a forest feel in it with cottages, gigantic trees, and tree houses. While the area on the right side had a nice hotel feel. Since we're not Tarzans and Janes reincarnated, we chose the most comfortable one for us - the hotel rooms.

One of the rules in the resort though is that the use of videoke ceases at midnight. There were lots of other activities that we could do though, like fishing, horse riding, billiards, darts, etc. But we had to pay an additional cost for each. So we just sticked to the one that really brought us there. And that is to swim. We stayed in the water talking about our lives and other people's lives until our skins got all wrinkly. Hehe.

Going back to Manila, Gary and I took a bus headed to Cubao. We seated at the back portion of the bus - something we later regretted so badly. There was this acrid smell of urine coming from, I dunno, maybe a container hidden at the back of the bus. YAK. Imagine having had to endure that for the rest of trip!

When we stepped out of the bus and stood in front of Megamall, along the stretch of EDSA, I thought to myself: "Breathe in! The air here has never been so fresh!" ^_^

Road Trip

Mary: "Kringle! Gising na!"
Me: "Ha? Bakit?"
Mary: "Tagaytay tayo!"
Me: "HA?!"
Mary: "Hehe. Basta, tawagan mo si Roxie!"

I was still half asleep as I stretched my arms and rubbed the sleep grit from my eyes. I stopped for a moment trying to remember what day it was. Am I late for work? No. Am I supposed to be at the office today? Hell no. Have I forgotten a planned outing? I don't think so. What did Mary just told me?!

Me: "Ei, bakit?"
Roxie: "Tagaytay daw tayo!"
Me: "HA?!"
...
Me: "Seryoso? Adik kayo."

With no real itinerary whatsoever, Boss Chris, Mary, Roxie, and I were off to Tagaytay in no time. We browsed through brochures and decided to check out Sonya's Garden first.



The place was truly a beauty. We walked through the garden's colorful and vibrant floral explosion. Got comfy in every daybed hidden in the vines as we absorbed everything our eyes could behold. I hope when I get back there, it won't just be for sightseeing though. I'll make sure to bring enough moolah for the food and the spa. But I don't think I would use that spooky restroom ever again. Nyahaha.



We then had our dinner at Leslie's Restaurant. Ordered an awful lot of food - crispy pata, crispy kangkong, sizzling something (hehe), tuna belly, and whatnot - all served generously.



We didn't quite manage to wolf everything down though. One by one, we dropped our spoons and forks, sated, and slipped into a food-induced coma.



The moment we recovered from the fit, we're ready for more Kodak moments! A bunch of camera whores, we are!

Hello Diabetes!

After work, we drove all the way to the City Center (now known as Bonifacio High Street) at The Fort just to taste the sugary sweet goodness of Krispy Kreme doughnuts. We ordered two dozens of this obesity-inducing pastry - one box goes to Roxie's family and the other box is for us to devour.



Deciding on what flavor to dig into first was no easy feat. Each variety looked mighty tempting! Especially the one topped off with colorful candy sprinkles! YUM!



Three doughnuts after, April and I already felt uncomfortably full...



...while Roxie felt like she wasn't able to eat her fair share! Hehe. ^_^

We walked out of the doughnut factory deliriously happy...



...and insanely high on sugar!!!

Tsukiden Christmas Party '06

We had our company Christmas party at Saisaki in Megamall. With the theme being The 80's, we had to dress up in 80's style clothes and become a bunch of walking fashion disasters for a night. Having attended an 80's themed party in the past, I knew exactly how to do away with neon-colored tops, leg warmers, and shoulder pads. I jumped into a red shirt, a jumper, and a pair of Chuck Taylor's; Then I sported a cap with an (M) printed on it. Voila! I'm Super Mario, the Koopa-smashing plumber of the 80's! ^_^



Part of the program is the battle between Business Units including the Admin. Each group was given 10 minutes to present anything 80's and Christmas-y. Our Business Unit, CSBU, did a three-part presentation:

Thriller!!! Thriller Nights!!!


At isang kilong pulang asukal!!!


C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-CSBU!!!

With barely a week of preparation, we still managed to land second place. If it's because of biases in judgment or just sheer talent, you decide. Hehe. ;)

After the party, we stayed at Starbucks where we pumped ourselves up with caffeine...

...as we played several games of Pekwa! Merry Christmas y'all! ^_^

Bang! Boom! Splash!

The 4th phase of the VGS project is finally over. Well, for me at least since I really don't have any modules to maintain. And after several weeks of planning, preparation, and debate, our Milestone celebration pushed through at last.

First stop: Gotcha! paintball war games in Antipolo.



The jungle-like terrain was extremely rough, especially if the team is on offense. We had to climb hills laid with dried leaves, branches, rocks, and whatnot, just to get to the opponent's territory. 'Twas a blast pointing a gun, pulling the trigger, ducking, crawling, running like hell, and inflicting pain! Ehe. Out of the 3 games, though, our team never won. Huhu. Nweiz, the war ended with me having two massive bruises.

Hopefully, when I get better, I'd get battered less.

While the others headed to Boss Jay's place for lunch and to get some rest, Isah and I went to our respective homes and did some preparation for our second stop. Thankfully, I managed to squeeze in a few hours of sleep before I freshened up and prepared my things.

We then headed to Solemar del Pansol Subdivision at Pansol, Laguna. We left Boss Jay's place later than planned plus the traffic along Manggahan was terrible. Needless to say, we arrived at the place late, around 11pm, I guess.



The night (or should I say, morning?) was spent with a whole lotta drinking and singing...



Just a thought. Why is it that videoke songs are all boobs and butt parades? You'll always see a video of a girl wearing a skimpy bikini outfit, frolicking at the beach, even if you choose to sing a song like "Lead Me Lord", for example! Very distracting, to say the least.

The following day, we kinda felt the storm's rage for it rained most of the time. But of course, it won't stop us from diving into the hot spring waters.

The night wore on, and 'twas time for us to leave. We packed our things, we took more pictures, we bought some pasalubongs, and we headed back to Manila...

Borat Buraot

I didn't want to do it, but I did it anyway. Why? Coz I had to. Coz I did it for a reason. And it angers me to think that there are people who are powerful enough to take that reason away from me, putting all my efforts to waste and making all my sacrifices senseless.

Tangina. Nakakaburaot.

~o0o~

Watched Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan. How's that for a movie title? Hehe.

'Twas a mockumentary about a Kazakh journalist named Borat Sagdiyev who travels to the US to learn about American culture for the benefit of his great and glorious nation, Kazakhstan. He interviewed real people, flummoxed them with stupid questions and offensive remarks, and got real reactions caught on tape. I dunno how much of it was staged, though.

Nweiz, the movie was soo hilarious, soo insane, soo fucked up, and soo politically incorrect. 'Twas one of those movies that will leave you scratching your head, thinking "He didn't just say that, did he?", laughing hysterically every time, and wanting more!

There was one scene that was so horrifying, it left a mental scar that would stay with me for the rest of my life! Think gay porn that is too awful for words! Yikes! The horror. >_<

But a beautiful satire, it is. Watch it! ^_^

Bloody Dream

'Twas only through Kathy that I heard the news about Bayani Fernando lifting all traffic rules in Metro Manila. It is "to give motorists a chance to reflect on what compels them to obey traffic rules". A day where there would be no MMDA officials drawing their truncheons and blowing their whistles to unruly motorists. "Huli Holiday", as it is aptly called.

Now join me as I step back into my dream world...

I was watching the news with my Dad. 'Twas showing footages of cars and motorcycles beating the red light, counterflowing, and speeding off like maniacs. Then there's this motorcycle ridden by a woman. As the camera zoomed in, it showed Vina Morales clad in this tight-fitting black plastic trousers, kinda like what Trinity wore in The Matrix. Out of nowhere, hundreds of traffic enforcers appeared holding fire hoses aimed directly at the motorcyclists. Its powerful force sent bodies flying off their rides, crashing into the pavement like rag dolls thrown about by a disgruntled child. Vina laid motionless on her back, half-naked, all wounded and bloody. A man came to her rescue but as he carried her away to safety, a fountain of blood came gushing out of her right breast. Vina screamed out in pain and lost her consciousness. The end.

This isn't actually the first time that I dreamt of blood and gore and neither it is the first time that it had a celebrity guest appearance. I remember Mylene Dizon, Romnick Sarmienta, Patrick Garcia, Desiree del Valle, and Pen Medina (just to name a few) stepping into my dreams. Nyahaha! This is the first time though that I remembered a dream in vivid detail.

Hmm.. I think I should stop watching Happy Tree Friends.

Say Cheeeese!

Our itinerary: meet at Megamall, proceed to Fine Light, have our grad pictures reproduced, then accompany April as she gets her new 'do.

Roxie and I arrived at Megamall an hour late. April was a little pissed off, I think. Well, who wouldn't be? But blame the traffic, really. Not me. Hehehe. ^_^

We then headed to Fine Light. Since the studio charges way too much for just a few wallet size copies (Read: 300 pesos for 8 copies!), April and Roxie asked if they could just get hold of the soft copies. Unfortunately, they've deleted the files taken a year ago and they had to look for it uh.. somewhere.

Nweiz, we left the studio empty-handed and decided to grab a bite to eat at Chef d' Angelo in Galleria. To satisfy our big appetites, we ordered two platters of pasta and a pan of pizza. But the cashier must've failed to take our orders accurately coz the waiter arrived with a single platter of pasta instead of two. Actually, with their generous serving of food, 'twas enough to quell our hungers. But we just wanted to make a pig out of ourselves. ... Or was it an I? Nyaha.

April: "Penge po ng cheese."
*Waiter arrives with a bottle of chili.*
April: "Cheese po."
*Waiter arrives with a handful of tissue.*
April: "Cheese po.. CHEEEEESE!"

Hehehe! That really cracked us up! Either he's got a hearing problem or April... well, she has a ngold. Cold, I mean. Hehe. ^_^

After dinner, we walked around the mall. Found some toys stuffed with polyfoam beads, which were too cute not to buy. While April was having a hair spa, Roxie and I bought her some Christmas gifts. Yep, you read that one right. We gave Christmas gifts even though we're yet to celebrate Halloween! Hehe. Well, I guess it's never too early to spread the Christmas cheer!

Merry Christmas, April! Really, it was the traffic. ^_^

21 Candles

---

By the President of the Philippines

Proclamation No. 1155

Declaring Tuesday, October 24, 2006 as a regular holiday throughout the country in observance of Eid'l Fitr (Feast of Ramadhan) Kringle's Birthday.

---

Hehe. Today's my birthday and having it declared as a holiday is more than enough reason to celebrate! I need not to go to work; I got to sleep as long as I wanted to; and I was footloose and stress free for an entire weekday! Just what I needed after working overtime yesterday. Haha!

The day was filled with too much surprises (unexpected visitors, gifts, phone calls, and all that.) Too much actually that I still have my jaw dropped on the floor. O_O ......... God, I really dunno what to say. Thank you so so so much. Nyaha.

Well, now that the 21st candle is added to the cake that is my life, I now stand at the bottom of the adult ladder. I know that ascending it wouldn't be as easy as ABC, but with knees shaking and feet hobbling, I'mma climb the first rung.

To everyone who wished me a happy birthday, thank you! It was. ^_^

CSBU Team Building

We just had our Team Building Workshop at Estancia Resort in Tagaytay. 'Twas a nice break for me after all the toil in the last few months. And a nice opportunity to mingle with my colleagues outside the office doing all those transactional activities (whatever that means).

For the first activity, we had to create a laptop out of Judge chewing gums, a box of matches, and a folder. The catch is, we can't use the gums without chewing them first. So aside from the challenge of creating a laptop with the given materials, the greater challenge is that we had to mold other people's chewed chewing gums with our bare hands. Nyaha. Not only did this activity require us to keep our creative juices flowing but our mouth juices as well.

For the second activity, we were grouped in pairs and I was paired with Pansai. One had to be blind-folded so with a game of bato-bato-pick, 'twas decided that he would be blind-folded and I would be his guide. One of the instructions given to us as guides is that we are not allowed to talk. And with the help of this activity, I realized how much of a cheater I am. Haha.

The third activity drained the energy out of us all. The goal is to find these three items: a spoon or a fork, a flag, and a letter. Simple? Not really. We were tied closely as a group. Some were blind-folded and were allowed to talk and to touch, while some were not blind-folded but weren't allowed to touch. Our leader was the only person untied but wasn't allowed to talk. There were lots of stairs that we had to climb up and down for N times. And did I mention that we had this activity after lunch, when the sun was shining full blast?!

For the last activity, we had to build a tower out of barbecue sticks, newspaper, and strips of masking tape. But these materials don't come for free. We had to purchase them using our clothes, our accessories, and our slippers. Apparently, they don't come cheap either. The fun part was when each group was given a chance to test the strength sabotage the other towers. Hehe. So much for building ties huh! Nweiz, here goes a photo of everyone who went.

Believe it or not, "WE CARE."

Paranoia At Its Finest

Today has been such a drag. There's this big-deal-issue that's been bothering me for quite some time now. I've tried my hardest to remain unaffected and to not fall into a pit of depression. But the weeklong chain of events have kept on dodging me that I fear I'm about to lose my balance and fall. :(

Shit happens. And when it does, isn't it a lot healthier to talk about it than to shoot words without aim? Why can't they just tell the truth upfront? Why don't they just pinpoint the problem once and for all? Why do we all have to fuckin' guess?!

Learn It. Live It. Love It.

As I write this entry, I'm still here at the office. Yes, it's Sunday and it's past 12 in the morning and I haven't slept a wink yet. I've alternately been busy working and busy not working. Unit testing and waiting for a module to unit test, that is.

I never thought I would actually say this, but I'm starting to enjoy working overtime. Well, enjoy is not quite the word for it but... Basta. Working for more than 8 hours a day and spending the weekends at work makes me cringe no more. A good night sleep is something I've been deprived of for the past few days. I look and act like I came straight out from the Night of the Living Dead. But surprisingly so, I have no complaints. I guess I've learned to accept that this is an inevitable part of my job and that I have to live with it. And perhaps I really am enjoying working overtime. Nyehe. >_<

While I've been very *eherm* committed to my job, I do recognize that I also have to take care of myself. I lost some pounds, some 5 pounds to be exact. I now have panda eyes and a pimple plantation on my face. I need to pop more vitamins. I need my eye gel mask. I need a higher percentage of PanOxyl. But for now, I think all I need is a gallon of coffee.

The Tao Of Pooh

[Excerpt taken from The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff]
Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie,
A fly can't bird, but a bird can fly.
Ask me a riddle and I reply:
"Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie."

Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie,
A fish can't whistle and neither can I.
Ask me a riddle and I reply:
"Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie."

Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie,
Why does a chicken, I don't know why.
Ask me a riddle and I reply:
"Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie."

A fly can't bird, but a bird can fly. Everything has its own place and function. That applies to people, although many don't seem to realize it, stuck as they are in the wrong job, the wrong marriage, or the wrong house. When you know and respect your own Inner Nature, you know where you belong. You also know where you don't belong.

A fish can't whistle and neither can I. I have certain limitations, and I know what they are. There's nothing wrong with not being able to whistle, especially if you're a fish. But there can be lots of things wrong with blindly trying to do what you aren't designed for.

Why does a chicken, I don't know why. There are things that we don't really need to know. We don't need to imitate Nearsighted Science, which peers at the world through an electron microscope, looking for answers it will never find and coming up with more questions instead. We don't need to play Abstract Philosopher, asking unnecessary questions and coming up with meaningless answers. What we need to do is recognize Inner Nature and work with Things As They Are.

Ask me a riddle and I reply:
"Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie."

Bruised Almighty

Yesterday, we had our company sportsfest at the Ultra. It rained so most of the outdoor events were cancelled. Actually, all except for the tug-o-war (Which we've won. Hehe. I just had to say that.) Oh well. At least, all indoor games pushed through. I got to play the deadliest basketball game ever. With all the shoving, and poking, and jabbing. I really consider myself lucky to emerge out of the basketball court alive. And I'm not even exaggerating here. Hehe. I had no idea that 'twas a basketball-slash-rugby-slash-wrestling event that I signed up for. Thank God the championship games didn't push through coz we're all physically drained and battered and bruised. x_x The pictures below, obviously, are all taken before the "deadly" event so we all still look "alive". Hehe.

Two Years And Counting

Two years na pala kami! ...ng blog ko! Hehe. ^_^

Happy 2nd year anniversary! I can't believe it's been 2 years since we started this beautiful relationship and I'd like to think that in those years, I've matured in more ways than one. You've challenged me to articulate my thoughts into words, to express myself without fear of judgement, to keep things real and just be me. And I thank you for that. Thank you for giving me this chance to do what I love doing, a chance to share a bit of my personal world where people can either cry with me, laugh with me, or even laugh at me. Honestly, there were times when I wanted out of this relationship, when I felt like you remind me of things I'd rather forget. But then I ask myself, "Do I really want to forget?" Two years and 174 entries later, guess what? We're still together. And I promise that I'll hold on to this relationship, as long as I'm able.