We're Not Alone

Seeing the school of dolphins fly through the air among the waters of the Tanjay Strait in Dumaguete brought chills down my spine. Living the city life so intensely makes you forget that there's a whole other world out there, and that God made intelligent creatures other than us.

Just that sight alone made the trip worth it, but of course there were other highlights: Spaghetti and dessert at Sansrival, staying the night at family resort and bird sanctuary SeaForest (watching Fadzly struggle with the bugs and the early morning bird chirping was certainly entertaining), dinner, great acoustic music and cheap board shorts at Hayahay Restaurant, boating through Tanjay straits and swimming over clear waters in the high-tide incarnation of Dumaguete's Sandbar, and our last night in the classy Bahura villa with free kayaking, snorkeling and a Jacuzzi tub!


And I was not alone on this "work" trip, Fadzly and Tricia joined me, along with Christian, Henrik and baby Emma, but of course the credit for planning everything (and the lechon!)goes to my Visayas angels Tess, Gen, Charlotte and Chito. Thank you again.

Check out more photos here.

I Hate It When a Song Means Something

Doing Too Much
Paula Deanda feat. Baby Bash

I'm leaving messages and voicemails
Telling you I miss you
Baby am I doing too much (too much)
Why you tryna diss me
When I just wanna kiss you
Baby am I doing too much (too much)
Tell me what's the issue
Who I give these lips to
Baby am I doing too much (too much)
This is turning into
Something I ain't hip to
Baby am I doing too much (too much)

See you got me all alone
Waiting right here by the phone
For you to call me,
Just to hear
Your voice tone
I keep on wondering if you was even
Feeling me, I keep on wondering if
This was even meant to be
Tell me imma waste of time, boy
You showing me no sign, is it cuz u on
Ya grind, cuz you're always on my mind

I keep on wondering if everything you said was true
I keep on wondering if you were really coming through

Now here I go again blowing you up,
And my girlfriends keep telling me
I'm doing too much
Now here I go again blowing you up,
And my girlfriends keep telling me
I'm doing too much

I'm out with my girls tryna have a good time
And you know I'm looking fly tryna meet sum other guys
But it gets hard sometimes cuz there ain't no one just like you
I try my best but I can't shake this thing u got me going through

All i can picture is the color of your eyes, and the way u make me smile
I ain't felt this in a while,
But I came to a conclusion that this is pure illusion
Chaos and confusion but I'm not gonna let it ruin

The way I feel about myself cuz I got self-esteem, sometimes I
Wonder if I'm just chasing a fantasy

[Baby Bash:]
Just leave ya name and number
And I'm gonna holla at cha
Just leave ya name and number
And I'm gonna holla at cha

Ronnie Ray all day
Women in the hall way, Evry day losing track of the people tryna call me
Don't take this the wrong way, I been having long days, doing it, moving
Round the town wherever I'm getting my song played

Now here I go again blowing you up,
And my girlfriends keep telling me
I'm doing too much
Now here I go again blowing you up,
And my girlfriends keep telling me
I'm doing too much

Flat!

I'm talking about my hair. After weeks and weeks of whining about my hair going every which way, I finally plunked down some moolah and got it straightened. Be careful what you wish for. Now I hate it even more! But there's no going back. I have to wait it out for a few months.

An expensive lesson in being content with what you have.

Mabuhay ang kulot!

PS - I know this entry is really vain. But I can't deny that I am!

A look back at Philadelphia

To test this new feature I discovered at Photobucket, I strung together a slideshow of photos from the Philadelphia leg of my US vacation last May. Actually most of the time there I spent in the nearby Norristown, where my best friend lives her very suburban lifestyle with her husband in a 3rd floor apartment. Besides being very happy to see her again, and being happy that she was happy, there's not much for me to say about Philadelphia. I guess I'm just not cut out for suburban living. We drove into the city for the requisite visits to the Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell and a cup of coffee at the popular chain Cosi's. I spent most of my time loading up on various fare at Red Lobster, The Cheesecake Factory, and spent most of my time swiping away at Macy's, and my favorite shops not available in Manila, H&M, Sephora, Forever21 and Bath & Body Works. But then how could I have helped not taking those shopping excursions at the King of Prussia mall when I was reunited with my favorite shopping buddy Mylinda?

Eating and shopping, that's what I remember about Philly. It was pretty much a sinful few days. I tried to compensate by snagging the best deals (with Mylinda's compulsive coupon clipping) and jogging for 30 minutes around their apartment compound, but that really didn't stop me from getting broke and gaining weight. To think it was only the first few days of my trip!

Endorphins

Yes, its old news...but new to me. Going to the gym can make you feel good and exercise can get addictive.

I have always had to bear the burden of coming from a non-athletic family. Sports, phooey...what matters to my family are our drawing, writing, singing, ballet-dancing, piano-playing and pictionary skills. Basically I was built to be a creative person who's pretty much a weakling. When my metabolic rate started easing its way out at age 26, I was left to try my hand at actually exercising to look fit instead of deceiving people into thinking I was fit just because I was naturally skinny.

So I picked up climbing, running, surfing along the way, still demonstrating my klutzoid abilities and natural non-athletic-ness all the while, but damn I tried! I even saw progress sometimes. But in the last year, I've had over 10 people tell me how much weight I've gained, including my half-blind grandmother, the older helper of our next-door neighbor, and my best friend's mom who actually called me chubby *sniff*. I admit I'm being overdramatic especially to people who have bigger problems with their weight than me, but I guess its just a glaring difference to someone who always struggled to get beyond 104 lbs. This year while vacationing in the US I weighed in at 118 lbs. DING!

I gave up my luxury gym membership last January because I was bleeding cash by going only twice a month, but this July I crawled back to the ghetto gym on the next street and signed up for about 5 months. Then I got a trainer (a guy who's skinnier and shorter than I am though he seems quite capable). I've been going back religiously 3x a week. I get withdrawal if I miss a day. And I've started seeing results! I don't know if its psychological, but I'm imagining cuts along my arms already, and the poof in my tummy area seems much less. In fact when I suck my gut in during the mornings I can actually see abs. And I now weigh an ideal 113-114 lbs.

Physically, I haven't felt this good in ages. Its a good counterpoint to the gloomy weather thats prevailed over our skies lately, weather that just makes you want to crawl into bed and meditate on your life. Now if I hadn't been gym-ming I'd probably think of all the bad stuff and magnify them by a hundred times. Thank goodness I've been going, its helped me to stay positive no matter how things are.

What Boredom Looks Like

Ok I admit it. I've been too lazy to update my blog with my US vacation pics. My 30th birthday thoughts. My La Luz trip. And coming soon, the first family vacation to Palawan. How will I catch up?? But I promise to put some updates on all those things even if it takes me forever (and it might!).

Anyway I scrounged up these hilarious photos taken at SYA Weekend Day 2 when we were asked to give our wishes for the community. Its tough to imagine me at a religious retreat I know, and these shots just shows how extremely looong (although enlightening!) the talks got...

I'll be back soon!

First Impressions

My first few days in the U.S. were spent in Mylinda's new home in Norristown, PA, and here are some quick impressions:

- Meal portions are HUGE.
- There is so much TOILET PAPER.
- People must be hard of hearing because everyone seems to be so loud, and they don't hear me when I speak in my normal voice.
- I didn't know it was harder to jog and breathe cold air.
- It's so damn cold even if its spring, but everyone else must be immune to the brisk wind since they're all wearing tank tops, shorts and slippers.
- Everyone's either really friendly or a war freak.
- Tipping is painful.
- I might have been with a shopping freak, but I saw more malls than anything cultural or historical.

So that's my first few days in a nutshell. I'm amazed at how Mylinda adjusted so well so fast here. I miss the beach and the cheap massages!

Think Good Thoughts

May 4, 2006

3:30am
I lug my (err, Deepa's) overpacked suitcase into a cab, and ride to the International airport. Amazingly enough, am actually punctual.

4:00am
Cut through the long security line before the check-in counter by assuming I'm meant to line up with the rest of Business Class. The Business Class counter directs me to the Standby counter. Reality bites.

4:45am
Continue trying to keep busy while waiting for my boarding pass by working through 1,400++ unread emails. Got it down to 1,100++ not by reading but by deleting.

5:50am
Told by Check-In counter guy as he hands me the boarding pass that I'll only find out if I get a seat on 6:50am NW Flight 72 to Nagoya at the gate. Gawd!

6:15am
After clearing immigration and numerous security checks, tried to look eager, charming and sweet in the hope that Northwest would give me a mercy seat even in the cargo hold.

6:45am
Northwest lady tells me firmly that all passengers are aboard with no more available seats. They promise to roll me over to the 8am flight.

7:30am
Still tried to maintain my eager, sweet and charming look though my inner bitch was struggling to come out. I wanted to stab passengers who continued to trickle into the plane last minute.

7:50am
Northwest lady tells me I could've made it on the plane if "Mr. Baker" hadn't come in the nick of time. Damn him.

8:00am
I watch plane fly off. Huhuhu.

Ahh the life of a non-revenue passenger. Tricia told me it was tough, but I didn't know how disappointing it would feel to have to claim your luggage at the Northwest office and drag your failed ass home. I even tried to buy a ticket for fear I wouldn't get a seat before Mylinda's wedding, but the travel agent told me that the next available flight to Philly was on May 22! I got so depressed that I hid from the world, turned off my phones, burrowed myself under the covers and drowned myself in sleep and Star Trek: The Next Generation DVDs. Only a couple of thoughts saved my sanity that day. My mantra: "I will fly out tomorrow. I will fly out tomorrow." My private movie reel of an unexpected but mucho delicious thing that happened recently. And my super fun weekend at that tanning salon known as Boracay. Time to take a Bora break...

The 2006 annual Boracay pilgrimage was undertaken by a mixed group of my friends which included Level Up! peeps, surfers, a childhood friend, and my headhunter!

No matter how much I think the crowd and commercialization will get to me, once I face the light blue clear waters, white powdery sand, Jonah's shakes, coconut oil beach massages, drinking nights, and gorgeous Bora sunsets, I'll always fall in love with the island all over again.



Great new finds for this trip, Hawaiian Barbeque (Station 1) for the steaks, Real Coffee (Station 1) for their breakfast of omelettes and muffins, Kayaking over at Boracay Regency, Lemon Cafe (D' Mall, Station 2) for their fusion cuisine and bright, chippy decor, and the Chori-Burger at any beach side vendor (how could I have missed this the last time I went!).
















Oh wait, where were we?

May 5, 2006

4:10am
Cab's late. I stick my suitcase in the trunk and take off for the airport. Cab driver entertains himself by telling the dispatcher he's so late he hasn't picked me up yet. Later he tells me he didn't switch on the meter. What an ass.

4:40am
Line up again at Business Class. Hey it helped cut through the long line the day before didn't it? You guys know the drill from this point forward. But so many good omens pointed to that I would be able to fly out that day. Such as:

Check-in Security Lady: "Aba, hindi ba nandito ka kahapon? Di ka nakasakay? Wag kang mag-alala, makakasakay ka ngayong, mukhang mas konti ang tao eh. Pero di ko sigurado, di ako naka-attend ng briefing kanina." (I ignore the last part.)
Check-in Counter Girl: "Ma'am, we're overbooked by 10 people and you're 6th on the waiting list." (Hey, that's better than yesterday's chances where I was 9th on the list in a flight overbooked by 14 people.)
Frisking Girl: "Have a good flight, ma'am!" (Even she knows I'm gonna fly!)
Northwest Lady: "I'm sorry ma'am we have to downgrade you to coach because you're wearing rubber shoes. But we'll be able to board you." (YAHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!)

6:45am
Plane doors close with me IN THE PLANE. Yeah!

To top it off: They upgrade me to Business Class a Nagoya in time for the 11-hour ass-numbing haul to Detroit.

It pays to think positive!

Zsa Zsa: Zo Funnee!

If you hurry, you can still catch the last few days of Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah: Ze Musical, at the PETA Theater Center in Sunny Side Drive, Brgy Kristong Hari, Quezon City. There are still shows on April 28, 29 and 30, and you can book tickets through Cedric of PETA at 0922-8712001. Like someone said in an email, with the P700 seats you're close enough to catch saliva sparks from the cast, at P500 seats you're far enough not to notice that Eula Valdez (zuperhero Zsa Zsa) and Agot Isidro (zupervillain Queen Femina) are wearing bodystockings.

I saw the matinee show last Sunday, and though the 3-hour running time was hell on my ass, it was cozy to sit in an audience composed of metrosexuals, bading and babaeng bading. Hey maybe there were some straight people in the audience, and they seemed to get it too. The show took the plight of the gay Filipino and turned it into a funny musical, but to me it was touching the way the show characters coped with sadness through laughter. When I read the original comic book by Carlo Vergara a year ago, I thought it would be perfect as a musical, and I'm glad someone else did too.

Panties, err, hats off to the delicious Lauren Novero who played the romantic male lead Dodong. Everytime he came out onstage I could hear the entire audience chanting, "Take it off! Take it off!" He made me want to become gay just to take him home. :-P

Echoes of the Past

In the 1800's, a young, well-off man named Martiniano de Jesus from Bulacan joined a group of bandoleros to fight the cruel Spanish regime that had been plaguing the Philippines for close to 300 years. When the Spanish discovered his involvement, he fled to a town called San Pablo in the Southern Tagalog region of Laguna and re-settled there as Martin Brion. He bought up tracts of land in the area, married a sweet girl named Iriniana Alanguilan, and proceeded to have 6 children with her. Unbeknownst to the townsfolk however, one summer Iriniana's beautiful younger sister Fernanda visited the family and could not resist Martin's charms. She also had a son with him named Juan, but left this child with Martin and Iriniana, never being recognized as his true mother and never marrying as long as she lived.

Juan was raised as Martin and Iriniana's son, one of 7 children, but always found himself the favorite of Martin who lavished much attention on him to make up for the circumstances surrounding his birth. Juan grew up a simple kid playing among the santol trees, tolerated by Iriniana but loved by his father and "aunt" Fernanda whom he visited during vacations. At the age of majority, he married a mestiza lady named Dionisia Espinelli Bril, hailing from a rich clan in Batangas, and rumored to be descended from a Spanish friar as evidenced by her blonde hair and bluish-grey eyes. Juan and Dionisia had 2 children, Jacinta and Filemon, and passed on quite early in life. It was claimed that Dionisia fell victim to the curse of the dwendes, and Juan perished in grief shortly thereafter.

The 2 children were adopted by family members...Filemon by an aunt and Jacinta by her grandfather Martin, who imposed a strict set of rules on his favored grand daughter as he was afraid she would end up disgraced as her real grandmother. He refused for her to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse, thinking that a job like this would get her sent too far away from him. She would deeply resent this all of her life, though she loved him deeply. Martin lived to the ripe old age of 107, and passed on all administration of his property to his eldest daughter Flaviana. She then took it upon herself to parcel out the land among his other children and grand children, but some say, she took advantage and gave herself and the family she married into more of the land than the other Brion children. The original Brions were left with hardly anything, and took to selling what they had to the richer branch of the family with a different last name. Filemon, Jacinta's brother, rebelled and struck out on a new life as farmer in Villa Escudero, setting up a new branch of Brions as workers in the massive estate.

Jacinta was a beautiful young woman, with the light brown eyes and fine Spanish features of her mother. Many tried to win her heart, but she was finally entrapped while on vacation in one of the small barrios of San Pablo by an out of towner whom she married. This broke her grandfather's heart and they stopped talking before he passed away. But the strict family administrator Flaviana knew how much her gfather Martin loved Jacinta, and gave her a small piece of land in the mountains. It was argued though that this was more out of guilt than generosity, since Jacinta and Filemon deserved to have what was entitled to their father Juan. For many years, Jacinta suffered through the laziness of her husband, and bore him 3 children. He then passed away and she used her wits to live through the Japanese-American War in the 1940's. This formerly privileged and smart woman who had dreams of becoming a nurse made a living as a washerwoman, and then for a second time married a poor but this time, more caring man from the nearby town of Sta Cruz, who vowed to take care of her and her children. They had a daughter together, named Imelda. There are rumors flying around that Jacinta's second husband Marcelino was not the real father of Imelda, but Jacinta will never talk about that subject.

Jacinta is my grandmother, and Imelda is my mom.

**********************

Aren't stories of our roots amazingly complex and facinating? Just listening to the elders talk about the past makes you think you're watching an epic movie or reading a historical novel, but its all part of YOUR life. So many surprises, so many secrets, so much went on that are just stories to us, but were once so real.

This is what I learned on my jaunt to the province yesterday, a very surface knowledge of what were very rich lives.

Bad Days, Better Days

"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody." - Bill Cosby

There a couple of small screens at the ground floor and 6th floor elevator lobbies of our building that they're trying to sell ad space for. For lack of actual ads, they have resorted to placing slide shows with inspirational quotes and in fairness, I've seen a couple of pretty good ones. But nothing more striking or applicable to myself than Cosby's words of wisdoms above. See, I'm a people pleaser. I hate it when people hate me. So sometimes I go above and beyond the call of duty to make people comfortable and happy.

For a tough stretch last week, the call of duty asked me to be the harbinger of doom to people. I kept on telling myself I couldn't control what happened. But it's really hard when something you gotta do makes other people unhappy.

So by the end of the week I tried to take Cosby's words to heart and stopped thinking about pleasing everyone...except myself! Went surfing (in tamer waves then last November) and this time standing up on the board wasn't just a fluke because I did it several times. Woohoo!

Uh-oh, now I'm addicted to the waves. Here are photos of me getting stoked! :)

North Luzon Loop (Part 3)

Bolinao, Pangasinan



Patar Beach is simply the best swimming beach I've been to in years. Uncrowded, clear blue waters with fine white sand, and its just a total of 5 hours away from Manila if you drive in directly. It's advisable to come by car, as the row of resorts is about 20 minutes drive away from the really good beach area--- yep its tough to trike or jeep in to Patar Beach. We stayed at Bing's Resort (for reservations call +63928-2477501, +63921-2807142 and look for Aida), which apart from being a comfy place to sleep, has really a warm and welcoming staff who always asks if you're ok, will offer to manage the videoke machine for you, and can cook a mean liempo and Pinakbet and bring it atop a 2-level hut perched for a view of the sea. One side of Bing's is also fronted by a good beach, but if you're too lazy to move from there to Patar Beach, one good incentive to get driving is being able to pass by the Bolinao Lighthouse, which has a balcony with an extremely romantic view of the Bolinao coastline.


I always find that roadtrips with Marj and Gigi always send us visiting nearby churches in every town we pass, and this one was no exception. Although I'm not very religious, I don't mind at all because I've always believed you can see the best artwork in churches. This holds true and is even more evident in more rural towns where you'll suddenly be surprised by a structure of Spanish or Gothic architecture. Above photos from L-R, clockwise: St Joseph the Patriarch, Aguilar, Pangasinan; San Isidro Labrador, Pangasinan (the outside looks like a birthday cake for Marj but the interior has gorgeous back wall mural), St. Raymund of Penafort, Mangataren, Pangasinan and St. James Parish, Bolinao (complete with bats in the belfry).



The last, unavoidable and most sinful component of a road trip is food, food, food! From the adobo and barbeque cooked by Mai, one of the best cooks I know (who claims to be able to cook any dish she tastes!), the chips, and cookies forced (!) on me by Gigi, the requisite Starbucks stop at Luisita, Tarlac, and Marj's recommendations, tainga and bulalo at Countryside Restaurant which was our last stop at Katipunan Extension, Quezon City.

Credits for the trip have to go to the great company I was with but most of all, to the birthday girl--- may she have a great year which kicks off with learning from her past and moves into a bright and brilliant future!

North Luzon Loop (Part 2)

Alaminos, Pangasinan

This time our excuse was Marj's birthday bash, which we took on the the road to Pangasinan. Our weekend started on a Friday at the ungodly hour of 5:00 am, at the Cinnabon outlet in the Petron station on NLEX. 3 hours later, were in the famous Manaoag Shrine. You can't miss it , there are 3 "welcome arches" along the highway that lead you to the site.

The church of Our Lady of Manaoag seems to have been renovated already as the exterior gleams with a fresh coat of paint. But the interior is at least more authentic and antique, and the back walls reminded me very of much of Spanish Intramuros. I expected hordes of people to be there as befitting the "miraculous statue" stories, but the crowd was quite manageable, and prayerful. After lighting a candle in the back and checking out the wood carved replicas of the Blessed Virgin mounted onto trees, we went up to a room positioned at the back of the church altar where you can kneel, touch the cloak of Our Lady, and ask your petition. There's also a museum where they showcase past perfumes crowns, cloaks, jewelry and rosaries that the Lady has worn, many donated by devotees. Typical of a pinoy Patron, the Lady was quite well equipped with fragrances by Ferregamo, Estee Lauder, Dior and Chanel and when we asked the museum receptionist what kind of miracles the Lady had performed, she said something like, "She brought a boy back to life." and "She saved people from a fire," which were singularly amazing feats but quite vague in execution. I guess its really personal faith that counts.


Another 4 hours later, the van finally drove up to our main destination at the Hundred Islands National Park in Lucap, Alaminos, Pangasinan. They say there are 123 islands scattered around this area, with 3 islands that are developed for overnight accomodations. You can choose either the "roughing it" accomodations or celebrity quarters. We opted for the latter, and booked a night at the villa on Governor's Island, where the locals claim that Regine Velasquez stayed a week before to shoot a Wow, Philippines ad (hence my Regine pose!).

The house overlooks the sea via a balcony reminiscent of a Greek villa (I can only imagine one from pictures), and you can actually climb down pretty steep rock formations to jump into the water. They only ration water though, so even "celebrities" have to bathe with a pail of water, and lights go off at 10pm unless you pay for an extension. We spent the day bonding, cooking (ok I only washed dishes), and hobnobbing with the local caretaker, the house cat and kitten, and the resident ghost (waaah). The lack of electricity led me to flip my cellphone backlight on every hour during the dark, electricity-less night so I could sleep!

During low tide, you can actually walk from Governor's Island to the neighboring one, which Mai and James did at 6:00 am while the rest of us were still asleep. Though I think the neighboring estate was called Virgin Island, and maybe that's why I wasn't meant for a visit. Governor's Island offers footpaths around and up a hill where you have a better view of the islands scattered around (check out me asking Manong, este, James for directions). There are also visually stunning balete trees with their roots extending down the paths, and interesting caves complete with bats! Here's a tip: Havaianas are not for trekking.



For P200 more on top of the P1,200 you pay for the boat that ferried us to Governor's Island, you can take the boat island hopping. We did hop around and check out the interesting island formations, spent some time at a raft anchored in the midst of several islands, tried to snorkel ('til we found too many itchy critters in the water), and eventually stopped at a charming little beach called Papaya Island for the requisite sun bathing in the grey-white sand, picture taking among the stunning rock formations, and swimming in relatively clear waters.

Then we took to the road again. Next stop--- Bolinao.

Note: To get to the Hundred Islands National Park, take the North Expressway and exit at Mabalacat, Pampanga. You pass through Tarlac and then turn towards the Pangasinan towns of Mangataren, Buhgallon, Sual then Alaminos. Pick up an EZ-Map of Pangasinan at any National Booksore for best results, and you can also arrange for accomodations at the Tourist Office when you arrive. You may also call the Alaminos Tourist Office at +75-5512505/2249.

North Luzon Loop (Part 1)

Baguio

The herd (or at least some of us) trooped to the Shell station on the North Luzon Expressway at 7:00 am on a Saturday to kick off our Baguio overnight trip to attend Ton & Anthony's wedding. A Starbucks breakfast, 5 hours and 10++ CDs later, we landed in the mucho delicious Cafe by the Ruins near the Baguio City Hall to feast on White Cheese Salad, Pinikpikan, Chicken in Cream Sauce and Panna Cotta. Sadly they had run out of the special Strawberry Shake, but at least we have an excuse to go back again.

After a short nap at Marvi's family house which would serve as our homebase for the weekend, we rushed off to the church to see most of the church rites, and then drove over to the reception at the Manor Suites in Camp John Hay. It was quite a trip to see everyone so dressed up! But what really made the night beautiful wasn't all the fancy dresses, it was seeing a celebration of a strong bond between 2 people. It makes one marvel about human relationships, and how people traveling different paths can suddenly travel together along the way.

Of course we didn't just stick with sentimental moments, but got cracking on taking photos for the rest of the night. Sadly enough, we only had 1 photo with the newlyweds! The rest of the time, Marvi, Gigi and I posed with Jason, Erica, and other friends.

We spent our next "day off" visiting Burnham Park ("Ma'am, off lang po kami.."), buying strawberries at P60/kilo and lunching at Sugbaan which is a grill place inside the park. Then we hied off to the Baguio Palengke for the requisite silver and gulay shopping. I walked out with silver hoop earrings (P180), a silver thumb ring (P200) and about P300 worth of cauliflower, romaine lettuce, cabbage, and mushrooms. The adorable buhat boys helped us carry our stuff to the parking...and gamely posed for a pic.


Before finally vrooming down the mountain (poor Max was traumatized by this trip), we took photos with the fabulous Baguio view as our backdrop. Finally I handed the wheel over to our resident maniac driver Gigi so we could speed our way to dinner at Isdaan in alongside the Tarlac highway ("Halfway to the North"). The food was standard grilled fare, but the floating tables and the phallic looking statues more than made up for it with entertainment value.

Clocked in home at 1:00 am on Monday morning. What a weekend.

Tagged!

This is a long overdue response to a tag by my sister, and my inspiration for the items below is an original list from my journal written many years ago when I someone told me that the key to finding The One was writing down the specific things you want in Mr Right. So dutifully followed instructions and it hasn't exactly been effective.:P But comparing my old list to the new one makes me realize how much my understanding of what I want in my life and for myself has improved greatly. And if this is what all this time helped me to achieve, then its definitely worth the wait.

Eight different points of my perfect lover:

1. Free-spirited and fun. No prophets of doom please or whiners please.
2. Responsible and able to take care of himself. Being able to take care of me is just a plus, not a necessity.
3. Smart. Genius IQ is not a requirement, but street smart and able to keep up a conversation is extremely acceptable.
4. Respectful. Of himself, of me, and of others around us.
5. An equal. I don't mean in status, but in being able to give as much as he can get from me.
6. With an ability to share, both his life with mine and mine with his. I can't live in a compartment.
7. Decisive. If he's decided to stick with me, he should!
8. Able to recognize me right away. Of course this is a shot at the moon...but one can only hope!

Ok that last part of the list was getting tough. So I'm sure this stands for more improvement. But anyway I'm also going to follow the rest of the tag:

Sex of the target (?!): Straight Male

Eight people I'm tagging: All non-bloggers, but they deserve to think about it too--- Tricia, Marj, Gigi, Ainee...and I can't think of any more. Fine...you, you, you and YOU.

About Something that Bugged Me for a While

My head was littered with stories of how well-off families had been denied a US Visa, single women were the most likely to be rejected, and an unemployed friend of mine had to pay an some dude P150,000 just to get enough documents for his application. After Mylinda pronounced May 14 to be her date for the church wedding in Brooklyn, with me as part of the bridal entourage, I proceeded to start overanalyzing my chances of getting my visa renewed.

I made my interview appointment back in December, started compiling oodles of paperwork including press clippings of my "fabulous" career, and worried about the upcoming interview with anyone who would listen to me. Still more people volunteered stories of how they didn't get in even with bigger bank accounts or actual real estate property and so the whole thing just got magnified in my head. The day before my 8am interview, I couldn't sleep. I hated feeling like I really wanted to get a visa, but I think I was also freaked because I hated failing at anything. Oh, and I had been promoted in the bridal party. Mylinda made me her maid of honor.

At the embassy, I spent 3 hours waiting and quietly listening to people worrying out loud at their upcoming 3-5 minute interview with consul. I saw older career persons and young families get the nod of approval. I felt sad when they turned down an 80-year old grandmother who said she wanted to visit her children perhaps for the last time. And then finally it was my turn.

Consul dude: So you're going to New Jersey to attend a wedding?
Me: Actually the wedding's in New York. I'm staying with a friend in Jersey. I'm excited to go to the wedding---I'm the maid of honor!
Consul dude: How many maids of honors are there? (Laughs)
Me: Just me!
Consul dude: So where do you work?
Me: A videogame company called Level Up.
Consul dude: Oh? And how long have your worked there? (Looks down at my papers)
Me: 3 years.
Consul dude: What videogames do you have?
Me: We publish...Ragnarok. Do you know it? (Fully expecting for his eyes to dawn with recognition. They don't.)
Consul dude: No. Do you have RPGs?
Me: Yes we have 3. And a couple of casual games. We even have a basketball game.
Consul dude: So I see the last time you went on vacation you went to Europe. You must have been gone a while, you went to so many places.
Me: Yup, 2 months. That's how I take my vacations, in one sweep. That was 3 years ago, I felt I owed myself another vacation.
Consul dude: Are you single?
Me: (With dread) Yes.
Consul dude: Do you know that when you attend weddings, you usually meet someone?
Me: Believe me, I never meet anyone when I travel.
(He laughs and hands me the yellow slip of approval.)
Me: Thank you!

Hell wasn't that easy? No questions on my bank account, my ties to the Philippines, if I have relatives abroad, all those other questions I expected to be asked! I still don't know until now if this subject was worth getting anxious about. Bur I really do feel sometimes that I can't possibly get any luckier than I already am.

A week later I find out I got a 5-year multiple entry visa.

Amazing!

January Lessons

The view from Surf Camp, Urbiztondo, La Union, the best source of banana pancakes and instant coffee.

Cool special effects from firedancers...and surfers too! Some people just have sooo much talent.

Lesson from Earl...learning to stand on the board. It took me 2 LU trips to finally get up!

I always end up wiping out.  But I've had at least one proper ride!

So mostly I just end up sitting on the beach watching the experts do it (taken at the Manila Surfer's Cup last January 21-22, 2006)...

...or posing with other surfing neophytes who hope to become real surfers someday...

We just love the camera!

Here we are hanging out with real surfers...guys who always have great tans year round and enviously flat abs! For more great surfing pics, visit Sid's fabulous photo galley.




My previous entry was about looking back at what I had learned in the previous year. But suprisingly January gave me a barrage of new lessons.  My 1st time to properly ride a wave in La Union, thanks to Earl's patience.   My 1st try at Power-Kiting, where I briefly got to fly a 6-meter kite in Greenfields, Santa Rosa Laguna,  thanks to Patrick. My 1st attempt to jump around in the sand playing Ultimate Frisbee.  Learning to play crazy and highly-recommended board games Apples to Apples and Cranium. Who would've thought I'd move beyond Cluedo, Pictionary and the classic Millleborne? The best lesson of all: learning that that I've finally learned my lesson on something I was so stubborn about after all this time!

The great thing about learning is that you never think you can figure it out but when you  FINALLY do...its one of the best feelings in the world. If this is what I accomplished in just the 1st month of the year, I can't wait for the rest.

The Year That Was

During this time of year, while people make new resolutions, I usually do the opposite and look back at the things I learned, the things I have to be thankful for on the past year. These things will be my ammunition for the year ahead...something I don't really worry about because the future always lays out so many possibilities for me.

So my 10 happy thoughts for 2005:
1. Financial independence, with a little extra for small luxuries.
2. Old friends who are still around in one way or another, and new friends who have made my world so much bigger and smaller at the same time.
3. My family's health, steady and consistent.
4. Learning new things.
5. Getting saner and more patient in my personal life.
6. My best friend who showed me you never know when it will happen to you.
7. Talked about it for so long, can't believe I finally have him--- Max. Even if I'll be paying for him forever, its ok. Everytime I put my hands on the wheel I think, "Wow! He's mine!"
8. Knowing my value, and knowing they know it too.
9. The sea, sand and sky that just makes me forget the world and love it too.
10. Knowing there are still guys like that out there.

Happy new year everyone!