Grande Island

I had last minute second thoughts about joining this huling-hirit summer getaway. My mom was diagnosed with diabetes and a cyst was found on one of her ovaries. I had to help with the medical expenses and I was practically running short of cash. But thanks to friends, my 50% down payment wasn't put to waste and I was still able to take this much needed break. ^_^

Met up with Gary at Ministop, Galleria at around 6:30am. Ercia told us not to be late. Seriously? SERIOUSLY. Well, we waited for them for an hour or two. 'Twas because of Charlie, I think. Seriously? SERIOUSLY. Hehe. Nweiz, because of the delay, we were caught up in traffic. But traffic jams are not that bad for friends who haven't seen each other in a while...

Finally arrived at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone and had a quick stop over to answer nature's call. We reached the Ferry terminal and took more pictures as we waited for the next trip. After an hour, we boarded the ferry boat going to Grande Island Resort. Lucky us, we were able to occupy a table inside where we sat comfortably for the rest of the ride.

The receiving area was kinda crowded for there were about three companies having their company outing. But we were in a grand island so what the hell. Checked out the rooms first...

Then, we had our buffet lunch. It wasn't that good, maybe because we're already late. Actually, I barely remember what I had for lunch. All I can recall is the salad. And that's just because of these pictures...

After lunch, we all retreated into our rooms to rest for a while. Roxie and I were very disgusted because the toilet was a complete mess after Arnie used it. There were McArthurs in the bowl and pee on the floor. *Barf* Oops! There goes my lunch. >_< Guys, I have one question - Is it really that difficult to aim your pee???

Nweiz, we spent the afternoon using the coupons, which were part of the package. There were a lot of choices for the Water Adventure - Banana Boat, Flying Fish, Chariot, Stingray - just to name a few. We first rode the famous Banana Boat. Then, we tried another ride called Chariot, which was a lot more thrilling. Next summer, I wish I get to do parasailing naman. Hehe.

Another coupon entitled us to play badminton and volleyball. I'm not a big volleyball fan coz whenever I play the sport, my arms get peppered with bruises. Nyaha. After the game, we stayed near the side beach to take some pictures 'til sunset.

We then had another buffet meal for our dinner. This time, the food was better. Also, there was this cultural show enjoyed by the foreigners and locals alike.

After dinner, we went night swimming in the pool. I saw three falling stars. Gary confessed something that shocked us all. Hehe. Too bad there was a curfew policy for the pool so we had no choice but to call it a night. Bleh.

Roxie and I weren't able to sleep well that night. We were bombarded with unbelievably loud snores that could put a foghorn to shame. I guess that explains why I can't seem to bring myself to smile in these pictures...

We then had our buffet breakfast. After eating, we had some sort of nature trip walking the trails and exploring the woods. For some reason, there were umpteen million dead frogs on the road. God, I miss the experience. Wah! I wanna hike again!

Went back to our rooms to prepare to leave. After we checked out, we stayed for more camera whoring. Hehe.

On our way home, we dropped by Duty Free to do a little chocolate shopping. We then stopped by the recycled house featured in Rated K. The gate was made of gas tanks of all sizes and the umbrellas were made out of scrap metals. How cool is that?

Then, we grabbed a bite to eat at Razon's. Their heavenly halo-halo never failed to tickle my taste buds. Yum! ^_^

Goodbye, Summer!

Feel Me In

JP: "Wala naisip ko lang. Kung ganon ka ka-expressive sa blog mo, bakit in person hindi naman?"

Well, I don't talk a lot about feelings and emotions (so I am told). Sure, I speak my mind but seldom do I speak my heart. Why? Let me count the reasons.

One, I find it easier to express my emotions in writing. Coz there isn't much to worry about when I write. No need to worry about dodging questions that I don't wanna answer. No need to worry about being disappointed for not getting the response that I expect. And I need not worry about keeping people interested on what I have to say. If they don't like what I write or if they don't find me interesting, they can easily click me off their screens for all I care.

Two, there are times when I feel like plain spoken words aren't enough to convey the emotions that I hold in me. That they're not as powerful. When I share how I feel, making it known to another person ain't good enough for me. When I share how I feel, I want the other person to know the emotion, understand it, and feel its intensity (if not the emotion itself). And I think only through the use of written words can I breathe life into each faceless emotion effectively.

Three, I gain much satisfaction from expressing myself creatively through writing. I play with words like a kid playing with his brand-spankin' shiny new toy - filled with a devil-may-care joy and gusto, overflowing with so much energy and enthusiasm.

Words are my toys. And this blog is my playground.

Vertical Thrill

Went wall climbing with Roxie, MJ, Simon, Julius, and Marlyn at Power-Up, Silver City. Gerard, one of the instructors, first taught us how to do proper belaying, climbing, and basic equipment handling. To avoid any accidents, he told us that the communication between the climber and the belayer must be clear.

Before climbing, the climber should tell the belayer that he is ready to climb,

Climber: "Climbing!"

The belayer should then confirm that he is aware of the climb and is now ready to secure the climber,

Belayer: "Climb on!"

While the climber is up against the wall, he can make any of the following calls depending on his need:

If the climber needs the security of a tighter rope,

Climber: "Tension!"

If the rope is too tight, and the climber needs the belayer to loosen it off a bit,

Climber: "Slack!"

When the climber is already on top, as the saying goes, the only way to go is down. But before he could go down the wall, he should first inform the belayer of his descend,

Climber: "Down!"

Then, the belayer should pull any remaining slack to ensure that the climber won't fall. Once done,

Belayer: "Let go!"

Apparently, all the climbing commands are straightforward and are very easy to remember. Using them would be as easy as ABC - or so we thought.

Roxie as Climber: "Climb on!"
Me as Belayer: "Climbing!"
Gerard: "Baliktad!!!"

Roxie: "Aray! Ang sakit! Ang sakit!"
Gerard: "Anong sabi mo?"
Roxie: "Slack! Slack! Slaaack!!!"

Me: "Pagod na ko! Bababa na ko..."
MJ: "Down?"
Me: "Oo, down na!"
MJ: "Let go!"
Me: "Promise?"
MJ: "Oo!"
Me: "Talaga?"

Hahaha! ^_^ After climbing the beginner's wall a couple of times, we decided to try a more challenging wall - one that was slightly angled. I clenched and clawed and laughed my way up the wall without much agility and success. I found it difficult to sustain a strong grip on the hand holds. Guess it goes to show how heavy I am. Ehe. I don't think I got higher than six feet when I slipped. Argh!

MJ climbed the angled wall with so much ease and grace. She was almost able to reach the top of the wall. Galing! No wonder Spidey fell in love with her! ;)

Hehehe. ^_^

And what better way to end this day than to watch Spiderman 3?!

Listen To What I'm Not Saying

Attended a Personality Development and Professional Attitude Enhancement seminar. I thought it's gonna be a boring discussion that I had to sit through for 8 hours but I was proven wrong. It turned out to be quite an interesting and cultivating experience. I got to learn more about other people and even more about myself.

Ma'am Michel taught us a template that we could use to help us win arguments. It goes:

When you said _______ I felt _______ because _______.
So I suggest _______.

Then, she asked us to come up with our own argument using the template. I came up with this:

"When you said you were scared, I felt hurt and confused. Because I was scared too but I didn't push you away. So I suggest you get your act together and let's do this together."

Now that I got to reread what I wrote, I realized that the last line sounded off and that it didn't make much sense. So here goes an improved version of it:

"When you said you were scared, I felt hurt and confused. Because I was scared too but I didn't push you away. So I suggest that you stop being so cowardly and let's fall in love together."

Better or only mushier? Hehe. ^_^

Ma'am Michel also shared one of her favorite poems entitled 'Please Listen (To What I'm Not Saying)'. We were asked to pick a line or a stanza that struck us most and if we wanted to, we could elaborate on it. I chose the lines,

"Don't be fooled by the face I wear,
For I wear a mask, I wear a thousand masks."

People see me as a happy person coz I'm always smiling and laughing. But just because I'm all smiles and laughter doesn't mean I'm always happy. Sometimes, the smile becomes pasted and the laughter, artificial. I may put up a happy disposition despite the brokenness inside. So please, don't be fooled by the face I wear...

Nweiz, there are a lot of things in my mind right now. Most of it are realizations punching me relentlessly in the face. So I'll just post them one by one before they could smash the living daylights out of me.

- I realized how our words could represent us. How the words that escape our mouths could give a wrong perception of our mind and our personality. I myself am guilty of using inappropriate language. I speak my mind without inhibitions that sometimes I offend people, though unintentionally. I never thought wrong of it, until someone misjudged me as being argumentative. Belligerent, even. I know I'm not those things and I don't wanna create that kind of impression. Well then I guess I have to take things down a notch or two. And I will.

- I realized that though I never cared about the pain I was inflicting on myself, I failed to take into consideration the pain I was inflicting on my parents. I've done/said things that I know have wounded them. Out of anger - for claiming to know what's good for me, for trying to manipulate me. Out of pain - in realizing that the house I grew up in is no longer my home, in seeing the family that I used to embrace so dearly break into a million little pieces, in losing the only thing that really mattered to me. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for hurting you just because of the pain you've caused me, I know that's very immature of me. And since you've been very vocal about it, I'm also sorry for not being the kind of daughter you wish you had.

- I realized how much I've neglected You, my God. I used to talk to You like a friend in times of happiness and of sadness. We used to have a strong relationship. But then I started questioning Your existence. It became difficult for me to hold on to my blind faith when all my prayers seemed to have fallen on deaf ears. I thought I'm strong enough to coast through life without You. But I was wrong. Without You, I'm wretched, I'm lost and I'm weak. You know I was never a religious person. But I was a believer. A strong one, at that. And God, I want to believe again. Do You still have room for someone like me?

- I realized that my greatest mistake was to be constantly afraid that I will make a mistake. I have this fear of making the wrong choices that I tend to leave all my options open until none are left. I was given many chances before but I kept on screwing things up. I kept on trusting the wrong persons with my heart. I kept on putting my energy into things that never worked out. Many times, people got disappointed in the choices that I made. And every time, I felt a needling sense of failure. But life, I know, would always be full of so many choices that I would have to make. I need not worry about making the wrong choices because it's ok as it is normal. People might get disappointed again, but I'll just let them be. Choices would be made and I would readily deal with whatever the outcome might be.

And so I end this post with a beautiful poem. It's quite long but please take time to read it... ^_^

---

Please Listen!
(To What I'm Not Saying)

Don't be fooled by me.
Don't be fooled by the face I wear.
For I wear a mask, I wear a thousand masks.
Masks that I'm afraid to take off.
And none of them is me.

Pretending is an art that's second nature with me.
But don't be fooled, I beg you, don't be fooled.

I gave you the impression that I'm secure,
That all is sunny and unruffled with me.
Within, as well as without.
That confidence is my name,
And coolness my game.
That the water's calm and I'm in command,
And that I need no one.

But don't believe me. Please.
My surface may seem smooth,
But my surface is my mask.
Beneath lies no smugness, no complacence.
Beneath dwells the real me in confusion,
In fear, in aloneness.

But I hide this.
I don't want anybody to know it.
I panic at the thought of my weakness,
And fear of being exposed.
That's why I frantically create a mask to hide behind.
A nonchalant, sophisticated façade.
To help me pretend,
To shield me from the glance that knows.

But such a glance is precisely my salvation,
My only salvation.
And I know it.
That is, if it's followed by acceptance.
If it's followed by love.

It's the only thing that can liberate me.
From myself,
From my own self-built prison walls,
From the barriers that I so painstakingly erect.

It's the only thing that will assure me
Of what I can't assure myself.
That I'm really worth something.

But I don't tell you this.
I don't dare.
I'm afraid to.
I'm afraid your glance will not be followed
By acceptance and love.
I'm afraid you'll think less of me.
That you'll laugh.
And your laugh will kill me
I'm afraid that deep down I'm nothing,
That I'm just no good,
And that you'll see this and reject me.

So I play my game.
My desperate pretending game.
With a façade of assurance without,
And trembling child within.

And so begins the parade of masks,
And my life becomes a front.
I idly chatter to you,
In the suave tones of surface talk.
I tell you everything that's really nothing,
And nothing of what's everything,
Of what's crying within me.

So when I'm going through my routine,
Don't be fooled by what I'm saying.
Please listen carefully and try to hear
What I'm not saying,
What I'd like to be able to say,
What for survival I need to say,
But which I can't say.

I dislike hiding. Honestly.
I dislike the superficial game I'm playing.
The superficial, phony game.
I'd really like to be genuine,
And spontaneous,
And me.
But you've got to help me.

Seeing Red? Not.

It takes a lot for me to get mad. But when I do, I get really mad. And when I am, there's this nerve that runs from my brow to my forehead, which kinda stands out. I cry buckets of tears, I yell at the top of my lungs, I curse like hell, I break things and, sad to say, I also break hearts. Honestly, I don't like me when I'm mad. I scare me when I'm mad.

In my life, so far as I can remember, there had been two occasions that have unleashed the "evil" in me. I'm ashamed to admit that one of its hapless victims was my own dad. I could still remember in detail the things that sent me flying off the handle. I am aware that no amount of reasons, no matter how valid they all were, could justify what I did. And for that, I'm forever sorry. :(

I know exactly what you're trying to do. You're trying to provoke me. You want me to lose it. For what reason, I still don't know. But I'm sorry to tell you that you won't succeed. You can do and talk all the shit you want but you won't see me transform to Incredible Hulk. Coz as I've said, it takes A LOT. And I know where I stand. I have a choice and I choose not to react on your shit. I know a lot better than to get myself into trouble. You should know better too.

See, there is a thing called karma and I strongly believe that it can work its miracles. And when that day comes, I'm gonna sit back and enjoy the show.

All's Well That Ends Swell

Bleeding Is Breathing

Eugene: "E masaya naman yan kapag nagkaka-pasa! Minsan nga naisip ko masokista yan si Kringle e!"
Me: "Naisip ko din..."

Am I trying to ease the pain in my heart by pains of the flesh? Has pain become an addiction?

God, save me from myself. Please.

Battered Better

Because we can't get enough of shooting each other with balls of paint...



The last time we played, I was already gasping for breath a few minutes after the first round began. Surprisingly now, I didn't find it difficult to run around the terrain. Guess the trek kinda strengthened my lungs. Sweet. ^_^ Though I improved on that aspect, I still suck at aiming and shooting and ducking for cover. So yeah, basically, I still suck at the game. Nyaha.

The bruises I got are helluva lot worse. I no longer took pictures of them coz I swear they're not a pretty sight. To say that they look horrible is an understatement. Believe me.

With pleasantly aching bodies and a bunch of stained clothes, we went to Filinvest clubhouse for our lunch courtesy of Boss Jay. I really had no plans of jumping into the pool with the sun beating down on me so I just enjoyed myself with the food, the drinks, and 123 pass.

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!!!